Love Notes Postcard Project :: virtual dock

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virtual dock.jpg

The last round of the Love Notes Postcard Project for 2016 began on Sunday.  I cannot believe that we are already in our last round for this year.  Where has the time gone?  

Words are a powerful tool.  They have the ability to heal or to hurt.  When we choose words of kindness, reach out to strangers to say hello, and open our hearts up to the unexpected magical things happen.  I am grateful to all the open hearts that arrive each time to share words with a stranger.

For this round we have individuals writing from:

  • Canada
  • Denmark
  • Germany
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Sweden
  • United Kingdom
  • United States

I love that this project brings back the feel of pen and paper and encourages individuals to slow down and take a moment to write.  But I always wish that I could click my heels and we could all be gathered together.  Since that isn't possible I invite you to join me on the virtual dock and get to know some of the individuals who are participating.  There are artist's, chef's, pet photographers, writers, magical individuals, and so much more!  It is an incredible gathering of divinity.  Stop by their virtual porch and say hello.  I just know leaving them a comment on their website will make there day.  Go ahead, make their day!

In no particular order here are some of the individuals participating in Love Notes:

sending out your words

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What changes you?
What moments wake you up?
Who inspires you to keep stepping forward?
Who holds your hand on the bumps of life?
How do you show your gratitude?
How do you bring light to others?

There are so many ways to do this and one of my favorites is through snail mail.  The simple act of reaching out, saying hello, and letting someone know you thought of them.  Don't get me wrong I am a social media maven like so many.  I love the instant connection and ability to reach out at any time.  But there is something special about a handwritten note.  I love that you can hold it in your hand, tuck it in your pocket, hang up to admire.  You can see it day after day and each time you do it brings you joy.  

Knowing that another individual took this time to write to you warms your heart.  It must be done with intention, thought, and kindness.  When you choose to send a bit of snail mail you are letting the other person know that they are important to you, you care, and you want to make them happy. 

When I first created the Love Notes Postcard Project I did it because I myself longed for connection with others and a bit of old school snail mail.  And if I did, I was sure there were others out there just like me.  And do you know what ... there are.  In fact there is a whole community of individuals who appreciate the art of sending things through the mail.  

These individuals show up for strangers and let them know they aren't alone.  Along with the words they send they also send smiles, hugs, and gratitude.  They recognize the magic of a mailbox and know that anything can happen when you find a ray of sunshine inside.  

One postcard could change you forever!

And so we write to one another
We share our hearts
We spill open and allow a stranger to see us
We invite them in
And even if they don't want to stay
We let them know how grateful we were for their visit
We appreciate the time, the thought, the care
We soak it up
And we keep on sending
We are the writers of the world
The connectors
The believers
The optimist
We take chances
We show up
We want to leave our mark on this world
And so we put ourselves out there
One postcard at a time

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morning on the dock

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One of the most magical things about Squam Arts Workshops is gathering on the dock after a day of creating.  The dock provides a safe haven to share your stories from the day and do a bit of show and tell on what you created.  It is a place where hearts open up, light shines through, and you are seen for exactly who you are.  It is a place of love and expansion and one of the best places to gather.  

Since it is not possible to gather on the dock every single day Elizabeth Duvivier {founder of Squam} has found a way to bring these conversations and space to wherever it is you are in this moment.  I am grateful to have had the opportunity to chat with Elizabeth for her weekly podcast Morning on the Dock.  We chat about he Love Notes Postcard Project, writing, running, and navigating the grief after losing my mom last year.  

I invite you to grab a cup of tea  and settle in for a little bit of heart opening conversation.  

Love Notes is back!

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It's back!  Another round of Love Notes begins July 10th and I can't wait to start.  Love Notes is a fun, easy, and free three week project that involves sending one postcard a week to a complete stranger.  Yes, you heard that right, sending a bit of snail mail to someone you may not know.  When is the last time you received a handwritten note in the mail just for you?  My mailbox tends to be filled with bills and mailers, nothing that excites me, but Love Notes changes all of that.    

Love Notes was born out of this desire to connect with people, to have individuals share handwritten words, and to have a project that was easy and attainable for anyone.  There is no artistic ability needed to participate in this project.  Postcards can be bought or made.  What matters most is taking the time to send a bit of handwritten love.  Words have the power to heal and transform individuals.  

In the last round which took place in April we had 300 individuals writing!  In that round I hit a milestone mark having at least one person from every state in the USA participate.  It was incredible.  I hope to be able to do that again.  But this project isn't just limited to individuals in the US, nope it's global!  I have seen participants from Australia, Bahamas, Canada, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malta, New Zealand, Slovenia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.  

New this round is the opportunity for children to participate.  I have been getting a lot of questions about how children can get involved and have figured out a way to make it happen.  If you know a child that is interested please click the check box in the sign up form and I will be contacting you to work through the details.  

When I first started this project I had no idea that it would unfold into such a beautiful community of loving, kind, and supportive individuals.  My heart opens up more and more during each round as I see the outpouring of kindness for one another.  Yes it's true, one postcard can change a persons day.  Check out the Love Notes Facebook Group to see a bit of what I am talking about.  

Together let's fill the world with love!

Love Notes Virtual Dock

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The next round of the Love Notes Postcard Project (#lovenotesjb) begins on Sunday.  If you missed it do not worry as I will be hosting it again in July and October.  I love this project for it's simplicity.    

3 postcards + 3 stamps = 3 weeks of happy mail!  

When I first began this project I had no idea that it would reach people from all over the world.  For this next round we reached a major milestone

We have at least one person from every state in the USA participating!

I am so excited about this.  It is incredible to know that so much love is being sent out.  But the love doesn’t stop within the US.  We also have people participating from:

  • Australia
  • Bahamas
  • Canada
  • Germany
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Malta
  • Slovenia
  • United Kingdom 
  • United States 

It is incredible to me how a note arriving in the mail can change a person’s day for the better, bring happiness, and be the spark to a new friendship.  This is what Love Notes has done and each day I am amazed with its ability to bring people together.  Some say snail mail is a thing of the past but to that I say no way!  Love Notes ignites sparks of joy and kindness and spreads them throughout the world. 

The world could always use a little more love and kindness!

I love that individuals are reaching each other through snail mail but I wish there was a way for me to wave a magic wand and have everyone who is participating together in one place.  It would be so lovely to see be gathered around one very large table chatting about our lives, sharing our dreams, and gushing over our mutual passion for snail mail.  Since that is not physically possible I invite you to join me on our virtual dock where you can stop by people's digital front porches and say hello.  Get a peek into their world and see where they are writing from.  Go ahead, stop by and say hello.  

mail! real mail

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To me mailboxes feel like magical portholes.  They open up opportunity to connect with individuals through handwritten words or surprise packages.  They are a mystery box of communication.  

I love how handwritten words are filled with intention.  When you take the time to write someone a note you are encouraged to slow down and really think about what you want to say.  When you drop it in the mailbox you are unsure of when it will arrive to them, but you know that when it does it will be an incredible surprise.  This is all part of the magic.  

Unfortunately I feel that less and less people are pulling out postage stamps, addressing letters, and dropping them in the mail.  This makes my heart sad and one of the reasons I started the Love Notes Postcard Project.  I wanted to bring back the magic and encourage more people to send snail mail.    

This FREE  project only requires:

  • Three postcards
  • Three stamps
  • And an open heart

Next round begins April 3rd

Here's how it works:

  • You will get paired up with another participant
  • Each Sunday for three weeks (beginning April 3rd) a writing prompt will arrive in your email box
  • Simply respond to the writing prompt on your postcard and drop it in the mail before Thursday
  • Keep a look out in your mailbox for a postcard from your partner
     

That's right, simple and fun!  Click HERE to sign up.  

This will be the 15th time I have hosted this project and people from all the Unites States and the world have participated.  I believe so strongly in connecting through handwritten words that my goal for this round is to get one person from each state in the US sending and receiving some love.  Wouldn't that be so fun!  

I need your help.  In order to get someone from each state  I need your help spreading the word.  Please share with your friends and let them know that their mailbox doesn't have to just be filled with coupons and bills ... they can also receive little rays of sunshine.  And if you know someone in Alaska and Hawaii {I feel these are going to be two really hard states} let them know about this project.  

Together let's spread the LOVE!

As individuals sign up I am going to color in the state they are from.  Hopefully I can fill up the entire map of the US.  This does not mean that international sign up's aren't welcome.  Of course this project is also international.  I just thought this would be a fun goal to try to reach.  

Along with sushine in your mailbox there is also an incredible group that has gathered over in the Love Notes Postcard Facebook Page   Pop on over and say hello.  Also check out some  of the postcards sent in previous rounds on Instagram #lovenotesj