Today I’m sharing something a little bit different. It’s a creative take on writing a love letter, but, instead of addressing it to a person, I’m expressing my gratitude to something in my life that brings me comfort (you could also address your letter to an item that brings you joy or meaning too). Last year, I purchased a neck fan and I’ve found it really useful when it’s hot – either in the house, outdoors, or when I’m working out. About a week ago, the fan stopped working efficiently, and the air was only coming out of one side. I took it apart to try to fix it but unfortunately, I couldn’t get it working again. In the end, I ordered a replacement for click and collect but it took 48 hours to arrive at the store meaning I was without my neck fan for my Zumba workout and I really missed it.
So, here’s a love letter thanking my fan for it’s long service over the last couple of years. I’ve also included a description of when I used it and how it made my life better. This wasn’t my own idea, it stemmed from my July Bingo Board challenge in which Kelseyleigh over at My Abiding Journal invited us to write a love letter to our air conditioning. Although having air con at home is common in the USA, over here, we tend to use fans instead (although I believe we’ll need air con in years to come). We have a number of fans in our house, all of which help, but as my neck fan was beyond repair, I decided to focus on this particular one. I’ve also seen other love letters online, including one in which someone wrote one to their morning coffee!
To My Dearest Neck Fan (of almost two years),
I’m writing to you today to explain how much I’ve loved having you in my life for the last couple of years and how much I’ve appreciated the comfort that you have provided.
I was inspired to buy you when a friend of mine at my yoga class let me have a go of hers on a particularly hot spring afternoon and I just knew I needed a neck fan in my life! I did lots of research online about best buys and you came up as excellent value for money and super effective within my budget. I ordered you straightaway and couldn’t wait to pick you up from Dunelm and give you a go.
You fit around my neck perfectly and were easy to put on due to your flexible back. You were lightweight and comfortable, and although it felt weird wearing you at first, I soon got used to you and your cooling properties. I really appreciated your 5 different speeds and I often found myself turning you up when in my Zumba classes due to the intensity of the workout. Lots of other participants in my classes were fascinated when I first started wearing you and I let many of them have a try of you so they could experience how good you were for themselves.
Although you occasionally pulled my hair and made me wince when a strand got stuck in one of your blades, and you dropped from 50% charge to turning off without warning, your benefits outweighed these little issues and I really appreciated your cooling effects during the very warm weather in the summertime. I tied my hair up most of the time when I was using you and made sure I topped up your power on a regular basis.
I looked after you carefully, putting you away in your slightly battered box for a rest over the autumn and winter months. As soon as late spring arrived and the temperature started ramping up, I set you to charge using you USB cable, so you were ready when needed. As well as using you in my zumba classes, I also put you to work whilst on the treadmill at the gym (even though they have air con!) and during walking workouts at home. I also found you nice and cooling when doing housework, particularly when ironing as the steam made me feel overly warm.
In the height of summer, it reached 29C in Sunderland which is the hottest I’ve ever known it. I was glad of you every day then, wearing you for walks, whilst cooking and even on a quiet speed whilst watching TV or doing some journalling. I made sure to keep you charged up for daily use as the temperature was pretty unbearable during busy days, but you made things feel a lot more pleasant.
One day, in my Zumba class, I still felt really hot and uncomfortable, and I thought the air con mustn’t have been working properly. However, when I removed you from around my neck in the car, I checked you over and discovered that air was only coming out of one of the vents. I thought there must be a loose wire, so, when I got home, I used a precision screwdriver to carefully prize you apart. I cleaned up the inside and checked the circuitry, but I couldn’t find where the issue lay. I spent a while adjusting things but unfortunately I couldn’t fix you so I had to accept that you’d reached the end of your use.
RIP neck fan number 1, you were the best!
Lots of love,
Laura xxx
Final words…
I hope you enjoyed reading my slightly unusual love letter. I really recommend it as a gratitude exercise, as well as a wonderful creative writing opportunity. If you were to write a love letter to an item in your life, what would you choose?
Keeping it creative 