Last year for Valentine’s Day, public speaking coach Lynn Kirkham posted-up outside of Orchard Valley Coffee in Campbell to hand out so-called “love notes”—paper hearts containing kind words for strangers.
A couple weeks ago, the Saratoga resident repeated the positivity operation at Roxa Hammock Cafe in downtown Santa Cruz.
“They get this hand-cutout heart, and I give them two blank hearts,” she said. “And I ask them to pay it forward.”
Kirkham, the founder of Yes You Can Speak, which helps people get over their fear of public speaking, is planning to spend her Valentine’s Day morning (from 9:30-11am) in the 100 block of N. Santa Cruz Avenue engaging with passersby for the initiative.
Here’s how it works: willing participants stop and she meditates on what’s special about the person.
“Three words will come into my mind or my heart,” she said, noting she then jots those down on the heart. “I will read it to them, and I will give it to them.”
She says people are quite touched by the interaction.
According to her, responses range from You have no idea how much I needed this, to, I’m never throwing this away.
“It’s super quick and profound,” she said. “It’s a movement that I’d like to have spread around the world. Because what’s missing in the world is more love.”
