Carrie Pierce

Valentine’s Day has a way of making people feel like they need to perform. Bigger gestures. Better plans. The right words. And somehow still make it feel real.

But what usually lands the deepest is much simpler.

A handwritten note.

Not because it is perfect, but because it is personal.

Before you start writing, pause for a moment and think about the person, not the card. Think about who they really are in your life. The version of them you see when no one else is watching.

A few questions to ask yourself

 before you write:

What do I appreciate about them that they might not even realize?

When do I feel most myself around them?

What is something they do that makes my life easier or better, even in small ways?

What about them feels uniquely meant for me?

How have they shaped my life, my perspective, or my heart?

You do not need to answer all of these. One is enough. Let it guide the tone of what you write.

When you start, focus on being specific, not impressive. The things that matter most are usually ordinary and true. Those are the moments that make someone feel seen.

Here are some examples:

• I don’t always say this, but I really appreciate you. You make things feel easier, especially on the days when I’m tired or overwhelmed. I’m glad I get to do life with you.
• I’ve been thinking about how steady you are and how much I count on that. It means a lot to me, even when I don’t say it out loud.
• I love how comfortable it feels to be with you. There’s no pressure and no pretending. That matters to me more than big gestures ever could.
• You show up in a lot of quiet ways, and I notice. I’m really grateful for you and for us.
• Being with you just feels right. I don’t overthink things when I’m with you, and I appreciate that more than you know.

If it helps, I usually grab one of the pretty love stationery or love notecards I keep nearby. Something about writing on paper that already feels thoughtful makes it easier to start.

You don’t need to be profound or poetic.  Just honest.  Take the pressure off.

That is what people keep.

Valentine’s Day does not need to be loud or complicated. It is simply an invitation to say what often goes unsaid.

In my book, Handwritten Notes: Learn How a Small, Powerful Act Can Enrich Your Life, I talk about how small, intentional acts like this tend to outlast the big ones.

This Valentine’s Day, write the note.
Make it personal. Make it real.
That is the part they will remember.