There are as many kinds of love letters as there are loves...
I've never been particularly good with words (sorry blog readers), but if I've learned anything at all in my 32 years, it's that there are a million ways to show someone you love them. Sure, sometimes it's not a physical letter, but that doesn't make it any less meaningful.
- Slipping a note into your Mom's lunch box before she leaves for her 3rd shift job
- Writing I love you in the ice on a car windshield in the middle of Winter (or Spring, if you're in WI)
- Doing dishes and cooking dinner for your husband or wife because they've had a terrible day
- Holding your infant son while he cries and rocking him back to sleep
- Telling someone you adore them, because you haven't worked up the courage to use the 'L' word
- Being there for a friend when they need it most
- Grocery shopping for your Dad while he's recovering from surgery
- Spending days on your wedding vows so that they're perfect
In my personal life, words aren't my strongest skill, and it seems the more I care about something (or someone) the harder a time I have articulating the things I'm trying to say. If you've ever received an email or text from me that seemed super well put together and you swear that the above sentence isn't true, let me assure you that you didn't see the 17 message drafts I made before the one I sent you! When I struggle to find the best, most perfect words, I wistfully think about how much easier I find it to express myself with imagery. I actually don't photograph my son, Ben, or husband, Adam, all that often (well, I'm sure they think it's a lot), but when I do, I find myself just in awe of every detail. I'm fascinated by their them-ness. I LOVE photographing Ben and Adam, and while those photographs are a little different than what I provide to my clients (mostly because I give Ben and Adam absolutely no direction and they're both definitely over having their picture taken), I adore them just the same. When I edit family photos, it's like I'm able to commit every line, every freckle, every eyelash to memory, and there have been times it has brought me to tears of joy.
So on this Valentine's day, I'll leave you with two things:
First, tell your family and friends you love them. Tell them in a million little and big ways every day that you care about them, and that you're there for them, and what they mean to you.
Second, I humbly present a little love letter to my family, taken during our annual Fall Family Fun trip to Schuster's Farm. I love these two dudes so much it's ridiculous.
Happy Valentine's Day!
--Sam
