Dear Reader,
Ever since I was little, I’ve loved love, and everything about it. I dreamed about being in love romantically, obsessed over the love I had for my friends platonically. I was always a hugger (and still am), a platonic cuddler, a words of affirmation giver, a small surprises gifter when I could afford it. Sending people songs along with the text, “this made me think of you :)”, a playlist maker, a schedule rememberer. My whole life has revolved around focusing on the ways that I could make those around me feel loved. Some may call this an intense form of people pleasing, but when it comes to the people I love, I truly feel that there are no bounds for how far I will go to make sure that they know it.
I have always loved freely, loved openly, loved fiercely. My love is something you can hear, something you can hold, but not something you will ever be able to measure. I don’t think I have ever regretted loving someone, even if I no longer love them actively. I am a firm believer that once I decide I do love you, there will always be a place for you with me, no matter what. I have been blessed with an abundance of beautiful people to love, and with people who love me back. I have learned that love looks like a million things; it is everything that we see and sits in plain sight everywhere we go. Love is new friends laughing as they learn each other’s past, old friends sitting in comfortable silence over coffee, partners sharing a look only the two of them will ever understand. Love is in closeness, in distance, through telephone wires and two hands that touch. Knowing that I have an endless amount of love and learning to do as I grow is probably one of the most comforting thoughts I’ve ever had. The idea that I most likely haven’t met some of the people I will love the most yet is a sentiment I carry with me through every hardship I have ever encountered. There is so much joy yet to be had, and love yet to be shared.
As I write this letter, I realize that even with all these feelings about love, I don’t believe I have ever written a love letter; and what a shame that is. So, this is a letter to every person I have ever loved, every person I love right now, and to every person I will love yet to come. This is a love letter to love itself. It’s a feeling that everyone strives for without realizing that it is never something they actually have to reach far for, as it is most likely with you at all times and in all places. I will always love love, and how comforting it is to know that love will always love me too.