The actual writing of love letters does wonders to the body and affection translated to words can help bring down cholesterol levels, according to a study published in Human Communication Research.
The researchers conducted a five week trial among a controlled group of healthy college students who were asked to either write love letters to their romantic partners, friends and family members, or write about banal topics. The participants' total cholesterol levels were assessed at the start and end of trials and the results showed that the group that wrote love letters registered significant lowering of their cholesterol levels.
Another study conducted by researchers in Germany revealed that those who write love letters or engage in activities that they enjoy doing for the one they love activated many areas of the brain that intensified motivation, memory, emotion and attention. The pleasurable activity was also attributed to stress reduction that promoted a person's overall well-being and productivity, according to Mind Body Green.
So, this Valentine's Day take a moment to pour your heart out on paper. Either muster the courage to finally say what you need to say, or get flirty and captivate that special someone you've had your eye on.
Write instead of giving a Valentine's Day card. "The main thing we focus on is showing the truth of someone's experience," said Elizabeth White-Olsen of Writespace, a writing group, via Houston Press. "Some letters will contain apologies, and others will gift love to the reader, but l think all letters express a vulnerability that can be felt by the recipient, versus a cheesy [holiday card] cliché that doesn't express what's in their heart."
Take cues from these world famous love letters:
"You wrote some words very dear to me, about my having enriched your life. I cannot tell you what pleasure this gave me, because I always feel so overwhelmingly in your debt, if there can be accounts in love... What it has been to me to live all these years in your heart and companionship no phrases can convey."
~ 1935, Winston Churchill to Clementine Churchill, via Library Online.
"I can't say how every time I ever put my arms around you I felt that I was home. Nor too many things. But we were always cheerful and jokers together."
~ 1951, Ernest Hemingway to Marlene Dietrich, via Telegraph.
"This should be a very easy letter to write - words should come easily and in short it should be simple for me to tell you how desperately happy I was to open the paper and see the announcement of our engagement, but somehow I can't possibly say all in a letter I should like to. I love you, precious, with all my heart and to know that you love me means my life. How often I have thought about the immeasurable joy that will be ours some day. How lucky our children will be to have a mother like you..."
~ 1943, George H. Bush to Barbara Bush, via The New York Times.
