A letter a day

My friends took me to this post office from another time and I would be ever so enamoured with it. There are many things one can say about the location for starters. Yet, for me it was far more that that. I got to sit in this unchanged place that carried all its nostalgia alive and find a pen and wait in the cue for the table to write at, just to be able to also post it from the same location.

Little did my friends know that they were literally meeting me half way on my personal mission to write a letter a day. I have dedicated October to this and I am pleased to conclude now, one month later that I would like to continue this tradition.

I did not think any of the questions you might potentially ask.

In this day and age?

How is that work?Seriously, every day?

To whom would you possible right so many letters ?

What is it to say so much?

Would they be interested to read?

Would they be easy to reach? Do you even know their addresses?

The first one is easy to answer. It has to be for sure a combination of physical letters, handwritten and emails - truly speaking, otherwise to reach out to people might be definitely a challenge. I happily still hold dearly on some addresses on my notes or inbox and love to go and bring these treasures out. They all happen to work.

The second question, after this first experiment is that - well, would not be 100% achieved every day. I would also need to have the mental resources to perhaps right also something meaningful and also connect my intention with the message I would like to deliver. So, as a fair balance, I did write at times more than one note or letter per day. I did not count precisely and I do not get hold on statistics for this project, and with all its fluidity it has given me a deep sense of satisfaction.

To whom? You might have heard me saying, writing letters has always one of my natural inclinations ever since I was young.Finding penpals with people from other countries even when were were free to do so. Or writing to my friends especially when we started parting ways, moving locations, some changed schools to other cities, there were holidays away and there was a lot of missing.Missing the connection with a good friend. Sharing what books we have recently discovered or making everyone part of our mundane simplicity.

Many years ago I have also started connecting to or at least reaching out to people who have inspired me, who have touched my heart in a deeper way. Contemporary artists or writers, painters, illustration artists, people who deliver their art in this day and age. I just felt inside of me a clear intention of saying “Thank you”.

“Dear artist ……Your work marked my life. Your work gives me hope. Your work touched my heart in so many ways. Your work, the way you show up in the world keeps alive the hope in beauty, a deep connection with the goodness of humanity. “

I came across the work of an illustration artist from Istanbul while reading a magazine. I still remember telling myself - this is contemporary art. The artist is among us like any other people. He had a website and a contact email address and I have reached out. Even more remarkable that the artist responded ,I have then visited his studio with my friend, and hold dear few art pieces oh his work in my home. Thank you,Gurbuz bey.

So, here I was. Trying to go back in time and space and reconnecting with my long now tradition of connecting.

Sometimes, the intention is simply because while writing a letter to someone closer for example might also mean that meeting them in person might be too emotional to express words and make sure these words carry the very deep love you want to remind them of. These might not be the words we grew up to use on a daily basis. Yet, I also do not want to keep these any longer in my heart without my dear ones knowing. So, I take a pen and find a way.

The intention with the letters as perhaps you understood, was beyond saying “Hi,how are you?” The intention was to express how much people touched my life. How much I care and how much meaning they have in my life. Being family, being friends, being artists.

I remember listening to this short song” Beyond Solaces” by Didacte & Holloway. And connecting this with this simple act of thinking of someone and telling them how they touched my life as an intention of a solace, and intention of comfort as well.

At least that is how this works for me. Anytime I receive something beautifully crafted, even if short form or longer, post card,an art form or letter or email set with the intention to shed this light on the trace left on our hearts - it gives me so much solace.

Take this blue angel here. My friend send it to me long time ago, handmade by his sister who is a ceramist.My friend is not longer with us.I hope his sister is and what a sweet reminder to myself today, right here and now to connect with her and simply offer thanks. I broke once the wing of this angel, and glued it back and is still here with me. Thank you, John and John’s sister.

You see, being there in this unaltered more or less post office in Vatican, where I landed only through graceful insistence of my friends…. It so happen to amplify my mission to reach out and connect in more ways. At times, it might even seem as an easier form as you might send all these waves of gratitude without having to be physically present in any location. Which simply is quite hard to do.

I would like therefore to continue this as a practice.It does not have to be a ritual only at Christmas when I still love to send handwritten cards and hoping will not reach out in April next year ….. Nothing has to be forced, I do not have to carry long lists of names or “shoulds” or “musts” .I simply take this practice with an intention and link what marked my day or moment and send thanks. Link also this intention with real people.

I love their responses too.

If there are a very well known author, might be quite hard to reach any address, potentially agents details only available. So… on that one, I had to pause a bit and try to mainly reach out via this very platform.

One of the responses I have received, also from an author who happens to be also a university professor was to offer my gesture of gratitude and acknowledge how her book inspired me through feedback on Amazon as well, as many other people can see this feedback. And yes, I shall proceed doing so.

I used to buy always more books and gift to my friends yet, her advise was equally important. If there is a platform that carries reviews, why not write directly there. It does take time but so everything else. It is worth remembering that reviews are very important for anyone having their work published and looking forward to touch and inspire more lives. I loved that reminder.

Another response was questioning my existence, in a sweet and funny way, such as: “We thank you so much.Are you even from our century? I did not know you still love reaching out via a postcard.You took us by surprised and make our hearts beam with joy. “

And here I was , receiving yet another amplifier of my own little project during a silent retreat I attended last week of October. There was a mean of communication offered for our benefit a pen and pieces of paper on a green window tiles next to a rustic fireplace. My dream to say the least. I could not find the internal space perhaps to connect and reach out to each and every person there with me, yet few notes found their natural way to other hearts, to other seekers of meaning who came together and shared so much from our internal world.

There are so many things happening when I sit and write. Even more so when I sit and write and think of someone with gratitude. My entire body warms up and gets fuelled by loving kindness. I simple feel that they are in the same room with me and I can get to say “Thank you”.

Whoever you are and you have received a note from me, I want you to know it was written from my heart. A way of keeping the memory of your kindness touching my heart, your work of art touching my heart, of the inspiration carried forward, the ripple effects and motivation your existence in my life matters. No matter we will ever meet in real time or you are already part of my circle of family and friends.

Thank you.