national letter writing month

The US Post Office has officially declared April National Card and Letter Writing Month.  How divine to have a month dedicated to putting pen to paper.  Yes social media is great to instantly connect, but there is something special about slowing down and writing someone a letter.  

Writing a letter requires you to take a moment and pause.  You cannot just rush through it like you can a text message or email.  There is intention in the words you put down on paper. 

When it arrives in the recipients mailbox it is a ray of sunshine carrying with it joy and happiness.  What makes a letter magical is the ability to hold it in your hand and see the penmanship and doodles of the person who wrote to you.  It is a treasure that you can enjoy over and over again.  

When I was in high school I sought out a pen pal through an ad in Teen Magazine.  I had to beg my mom to send in the $5 to have me matched up with someone.  When I received the first letter I was beyond excited.  The envelope decorated with stickers and smiley faces and inside a letter documenting someones life.  We wrote to each other often for a couple of years sharing our heart aches and happy moments.  A friendship blossomed from afar long before internet communication was a thing.  I still have those letters tucked away in my parents attic and when I look at them they still make me smile. 

There are many different types of letters you can write and people you can write to.  What matters most is that you take the time to share your heart in words.  It does not have to be perfect.  There can be cross outs and misspelling.  As you write a new part of the story may unearth or your words may take you in a completely different direction.  Give yourself permission to explore on the page wherever your words want to go.  

Not sure where to get started?  Here are a couple of options:

• Write to a friend or family member sharing your favorite memory of the two of you together.
• Write to your significant other reminiscing about the day you first met and the moment you knew it was love.
• Share a joke with a child.
• Let a co-worker know how much you appreciate them.
• Compliment a business or service that you enjoy.
• Reach out to someone who inspires you and let them know why. 
• Send your best friend the top ten reasons why you adore him or her.
• Write to a grandparent and let them know what they have taught you.
• Write a letter of encouragement to someone who is going through a hard time.  Let them know that you are there for them. 
• Delight a stranger by leaving an encouraging note in a public place for someone to find. 

Your words have power and the ability to bring joy.  Share your words and feelings with those around you.  Let them know how much they mean to you.  I guarantee your letter will change their day.  

Does it feel to overwhelming to begin with a letter?  I invite you to join the Love Notes Postcard Project.  All you need is (1) something to write with, (2) something to write on and (3) three stamps. I will hand-select your pen pal and provides you with writing prompts for each of the three rounds.  We begin on April 8th.  

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your words matter

Since the inception of Love Notes my mom would sign up for each round.  It always made me smile when I saw here name on the list.  Having your parents cheer you on never gets old no matter how many years you turn.  Plus, having them participate in something you created is the icing on the cake. 

But then her named stopped appearing.  I thought maybe she was to busy and didn't worry to much about it.  When the next round came and she didn't sign up I knew something was going on.  Was it that the obligatory phase of having to be involved in your childrens activities had faded?  Was she just not interested?  Did something about the project turn her off?  

Love Notes was created with the intention of being a project that was easy; something anyone could participate in.  I didn't want people to feel like they had to be an artist, create an incredible piece of work, or write brilliant words.  I didn't want anyone to be intimidated.  Yet that is exactly what was going on with my mom; she was intimated by the lovely postcards she had seen popping up in the Facebook Group. 

It is human nature for you to compare yourself to others.  Your inner demons sing their evil songs and weave a tale that tells says you aren't good enough and for some reason you begin to believe them.  You get into a vicious cycle of compare, compare, compare and you forget to look around and see what magic you are creating.  

You are uniquely you and bring beauty
to this world in a way that no other can!

No one expresses themselves the way you do.
No one shows up the way you do.
No one holds hands, gives hugs, or smiles the way you do.
Who you are and what you do matters
And you need to share that light with the world.  

I reassured my mom that she did not have to make her own postcards.  That what matters most is that she is taking time to write something to a complete stranger.  Even if all she wrote was; "hello, I am thinking of you" that would be enough and it would be a gift to the individual who received it.  She decided to fight those inner demons saying she wasn't good enough and she signed up again.  

Fast forward a few years.  My mom is no longer with us yet each time I host Love Notes I can feel her cheering me on.  Her spirit is strong and her handwritten notes that she has sent has touched the lives of others.  

By pure magic and divine kindness one of her notes arrived in my mailbox unexpectedly this year.  As I opened up the envelope I had no idea what it was but noticed the handwriting and was blown away that it looked so much like my mom's.  Upon further reading it was in fact my mom's handwriting. 

A fellow Love Note participant had stumbled across a note my mom had sent her when they were paired up together.  When she found it she felt a deep urge to share it with me and took the time to send it my way.  She also let me know how my moms words had touched her.  Tears filled my eyes as it sunk in that I was holding a note my mom had written.  That very piece of paper was in her hands.  There was intention, love, and kindness embedded into that card.  Those words were a gift to the recipient and they were now a gift to me.  

The words you use do not have to be fancy or perfectly put together.  You do not need to write with special ink or a particular piece of paper.  What truly matters is that you are reach out.  In reaching out you invite others in and remind them that they aren't alone.  Your words have the ability to lift someone up, change their day, and make them smile.  And you never know where your words are gonna end up.  

When my mom wrote that card she had no idea that on a day I was missing her deeply I would receive the greatest surprise in my mailbox, her words.  The words she never would have written had she let those demons win and tell her she wasn't good enough.  

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The next round of Love Notes begins on April 8th.  I hope you will join us.  It is completely free to sign up. All you need is something to write with, something to write on, and three stamps.  I provide you with a partner and the prompts so you have a jumping off point on what to write.  

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leaning in

When things shift you have to learn how to navigate the new normal.  What was once your daily routine has changed and the steady ground you were on is no longer steady.  This shift is uncomfortable because you do not know where the next step is.  But you pick yourself up and you go after this unknown terrain with a wide open heart.  Because you know that above all else you have to follow your heart.  You have to show up.  You have to keep stepping forward.  

And that is exactly what you do.  Even when it feels scary.  You lean in.  You get quiet.  You listen to that inner voice that has been calling for so long.  You do not let this moment pass you by.  You embrace the uncertainty and take it as an opportunity and a chance to unpack your inner dreams.  

Because it is time to do what your heart is calling!

stand in your light

Because deep inside of you is this light that will never dim
It is the fire of your spirit
It burns bright
Even when you are taken off course
Even when you fall to your knees
Even when you aren't sure where you are going
Your light shines
It is a beacon guiding you home
Showing you the next right step
It helps you to see that you are stronger than you ever thought
Yes, this light is your guide
You need to trust it
Believe in it
Lean deeply into it
Allow this light to teach you what you need to learn
Be brave in the chances you take
Know that you have what you need inside you
You can make it happen
 

beginning anew in march

I could make the drive to and from work with my eyes closed.  I have been going the same way for ten years.  These roads which were once unfamiliar and unknown have now become a part of my DNA.  I remember when I arrived that first day.  Unsure of where to park, feeling deeply the jitters of the unknown as I stepped into a world I was completely unfamiliar with. Never did I imagine what I would learn within these four walls or the way I would grow and expand.  I didn't expect to unearth friendships, take an unexpected trip, get my heart broken, laugh deeply, strengthen my voice, fill my heart with memories.  

What was began as a temporary job evolved into finding my way to marketing.  I never thought I would end up here, but then again I never really knew where I was going.  I tend to follow my heart and take a chance.  I am grateful for the way these walls have held me gently, encouraged me to step forward, and given me financial security to enjoy the the moments of my days.  

Yet, there has been a constant tug inside my heart nudging me to step into my light and do the work I am meant to do in this world.  The biggest challenge has been that I am unsure what exactly that looks like.  What I know for certain is:

• I am called to being in service to others
• I have a strong desire to guide individuals in opening up to their heart to the page and experiencing the healing powers of their own written word
• I want to encourage others to move their bodies and tend to their minds
• I crave work that builds confidence in others
• I understand the importance of deep self care and want to encourage others to nourish their hearts and souls
• I want to invite people to experience the healing powers of nature
• And I want to do all of this with a heart wide open with love

Because how we show up in the world matters.  And when we feel called to do something we have to listen to the universe and simply go after it.  I don't know what shape or form it is going to take but I know that I need to get quiet and listen.  I need to give myself breathing room to figure it out.  I need to remember that it doesn't have to be so hard.  

March is the month of the bear for me which means waking from spiritual slumber / beginning anew.  This card could not be more perfectly timed as I feel the stirring inside my heart getting stronger and this familiar ground I have been traveling on is starting to feel very unfamiliar.  

It is time for me to wake from my slumber and move towards the light that is burning inside my heart.  It is time to transform.  It is time to begin.    

I have been known to do things in life in a non traditional way.  I follow my heart.  Put one foot in front of the other and simply see what happens.  I do not worry to much about the what if's.  I take the chance.  This hasn't always worked out in my favor but one thing is for certain; I have learned so much along the way and have grown into who I am today.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  

As I stand on the edge of this horizon I know I need to leap and give myself space to figure it out.  I cannot delay a single second longer.  Life passes by in the blink of an eye and it is time for me to shine.  I need to step forward and carve my own path.  My journey is just beginning.

How are you meant to shine your light in this world?   

what work are you meant to do in this world?

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. ”

— Margaret Mead

For as long as I can remember there has been one constant question that I have asked myself.  A question I still have yet to find the answer to.  But one I am unwilling to give up on.   

What work am I meant to do in this world?

I want to do something bigger than me.  I want to leave this world better than I found it.  I want to inspire people to reach a little further.  I want to encourage people to show up with kindness.  I want to share my heart with others and invite them to do the same.  

I want to make a difference.  

I have always questioned what my purpose is.  I have always wondered how am I meant to show up.  I feel it in my bones that I am not meant to live small.  There is work inside me that I need to share.  

I have not yet discover what this truly looks like, but there are some things I know for sure.  

• My words heal
• My patience allows others space to open up
• My quiet disposition is a gift 

I believe in the power of kindness.  I know that we all need a little bit of inspiration to push us further throughout our days.  We are not meant to go about this alone.  Together we can do so much more.  I know that we need community and connection.  We all just want to be seen and heard.  

And so I show up, day after day trying to unearth what it is I am meant to do in this world.  I refuse to give up on my work.  I will keep putting one foot in front of the other until I unearth my path.  

What about you?  What work are you meant to do in this world?  How do you choose to show up?  What mark are you hoping to leave?

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As I unearth my path I know it is important to gather with other like minded souls.  The inspiration that is sparked when we are together is beyond anything that can happen alone.  So I invite you to meet & mingle and get to know other local creatives.  

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