sending out your words

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

be right here

Be right here with me in the moment
Do not allow your thoughts to drift to what could or could not be
Just be right here
Look deep into my eyes
Do you see and feel what I do
Our days are numbered
Our moments unknown
So be right here with me
Share your hopes and fears
Lean deeply in and feel the trust between us
I want to hear your stories
I want to see your soul awaken
Be right here
Yes in this very moment
Slow down
Allow the light and love to circle you
I know it may feel scary
But trust all that you are feeling
Let down your guard
Invest your love
Be right here

dear mom

There are signs of her everywhere and it warms my heart
When I miss her she reminds me that she is never that far away
Her offering of feathers brings her close to me

Dear Mom,
There are so many words I want to say, so many stories I want to share.  The world keeps spinning on and it doesn't feel right that you aren't here.  I can't believe it has been a little over a year since you began your next journey.  My world is not the same without you in it.  

As I have been training for the NYC Marathon you have been in my thoughts and keeping me company along the way.  Thank you for all of the feathers you have sent down just when I needed them most.  I know how much you loved the marathon and I am running this one for you.  

I remember the pride you had in your eyes when you would tell people your daughter was training.  I think you told more people than I did.  You then stood on the streets that cold November day and cheered me on wildly.  It was those cheers that helped push me to the finish line.  

I know I won't see your face there this time around, but you will be in my heart. With each step memories flood back. Moments I have long forgotten.  They bring a smile to my face and a tear to my eye.  You taught me to never give up and so even when it get's hard I am going to keep putting one foot in front of the other and cross that finish line for you.  

I love you and I miss you.

Love,
Jennifer 

the boy in the bright yellow shirt

As I put one foot in front of the other on my morning run I spotted him in the distance.  He was hard to miss with that bright yellow shirt.  From far away I did not give him much thought but as I got closer I was intrigued.  He was not who I thought him to be. Rather he was much younger, between 11-14 years of age.  He was riding along with who I guessed to be his Father.  His hands clung to the rail on the side of the truck as his Dad jumped off and picked up the trash cans.  It made me smile thinking how he was witnessing how hard his dad worked. 

I turned the corner and the thought of him left my mind until we crossed paths again.  I watched from afar as he jumped off the truck, grabbed the trash, and threw it in.  He was right there in it and he was working hard.  Filled with enthusiasm he ran a few cans ahead of the truck pulling out the bags of trash and running with them to the next can.  He then waited on the sidewalk for the truck to catch up with him and when it did he ran to throw them in.  

As I passed him he smiled and said hello.  I told him he was doing a great job and I kept on running.  

That moment stayed with me for the rest of the day.  This brief interaction between me and this child left me feeling inspired and happy.  He was throwing that trash away with so much pride and enthusiasm my heart swelled.  He was doing something maybe not a lot of people would choose as a job, and he was smiling.  

He was doing a great job, but the other two guys that were with him were also doing a great job.  They were showing up day in and day out and keeping things clean.  If we didn't have them doing the job they do things would be a lot different.  

I wondered if anyone ever told them they were doing a great job.  They deserve to hear it just as much as that little boy in the bright yellow shirt.  These men work hard and I am so grateful for the work they do.  This thought of saying thank you to them came to me long after I had passed them but has stayed with me and next time I see them I am going to be sure to stop, say thank you, and let them know they are doing a great job.    

together, you and I

And here we are, on the other side of yesterday
Navigating our way
Unearthing our feelings
Discovering new things
And remembering the past
We hold onto all of it
Longing to create new memories together
Yet not wanting to let go of all that was

We are better people because of each other
Stronger
Braver
Wiser
We trust that we are able to show up as we are
And be fully embraced in the moment

There is no fancy showmanship
No fear of having to be someone you are not
It is raw, true, and honest
It is heartache and tears
Rolled deep into laughter and love
It is a you and a me coming together
Finding our way on this path we are creating

We know we are here for one another
Always and forever
There is a great ability to open up
When you know you will never be judged
And so we do
Falling deeply into one another
Cheering each other on

This is the type of love I have been looking for
And here I found it with you
It was never forced
And always true
It feels right and is simply divine
A me and a you entwined together
Just as it was meant to be

you take the risk

You didn’t know if you could do it
But you knew you had to try
You didn’t know what the outcome would be
But you knew you had to take the risk
You have stood on the sidelines for far too long
You watched others take flight wishing you could do the same
You have been stock piling your courage
And you know you cannot wait a single second longer
You must follow your heart
Go after what is calling you
Risk the fear of potential failure
And try anyway
The time is now
To make your own happy
Leap without expectations
See where the road leads you
You know that you are meant to carve your own path
Find your own way home
Discover yourself along the journey
And so you do it
Putting one foot in front of the other
You reach
You grow
You learn
And you keep on going, even when it feels impossible
Because you aren’t meant to live small
You have come here with your heart wide open
And you want to take it all in
This is your life
You claim it
You live it
You are fully present in it
You are going to make the most of it
Each and every day
And so you take the risk, time and time again