How to Write a Heartfelt Letter of Appreciation to a Military Service Member

Since 2004, Lynette M. Smith has headed the copyediting division of All My Best (AllMyBest.com). She holds memberships in Editorial Freelancers Association, San Diego Professional Editors Network, and Publishers & Writers of San Diego. Both personally and professionally, Lynette abides by the principles in ＂The Four Agreements＂ by don Miguel Ruiz: Be impeccable with your word; don’t take anything personally; don’t make assumptions; and always do your best. In 2009, she expanded her company to include publishing helpful guides for letter writers, authors, editors, and proofreaders. A personal event inspired Lynette to write about how to compose and send treasured letters of appreciation. She tells this story: ＂When our son Byron married Rachael in 2008, they each wrote a loving letter to their own parents, describing not only their fondest childhood memories but also the values, life lessons, and ideals they would bring to their marriage. At the wedding rehearsal, one at a time, they presented their letters to their parents. Both sets of parents, as well as all others present, were deeply moved. We will always treasure our loving memento.＂ Inspired by Byron and Rachael’s heartfelt creativity, In 2009 Lynette published a set of four marriage-themed tips booklets for the various types of letters of appreciation. In 2012, she published her award-winning comprehensive reference book, ＂How to Write Heartfelt Letters to Treasure: For Special Occasions and Occasions Made Special.＂ And in 2015 she began publishing her series of six fully self-contained themed guides based on the book. Lynette has a BIG, ACHIEVABLE GOAL: to get millions of people worldwide to focus on love and gratitude by writing heartfelt letters of appreciation to their friends, loved ones, and business associates, so they can establish, enhance, or even rebuild their personal and professional relationships and thus change their world. Have YOU personally written or received a heartfelt letter of appreciation? Visit the Heartfelt Stories page of GoodWaysToWrite.com for guidelines to submit, via email, your own brief account describing what it felt like--for you and/or the other individual. Your story’s presence on that page will help inspire others to share the love by writing treasured letters of their own! Lynette hopes you will visit GoodWaysToWrite.com soon to learn more about how together we can change the world, one heartfelt letter at a time.