Monthly (physical) letters for self-discovery
On the joy of physical things
One day, when I was 15, my mom handed me the envelope that arrived for me in the mail. I was confused because I never received anything in the mail. I wasn’t old enough to pay bills yet.
When I opened it, sparks were popping inside my chest of anticipation, while I pressured the corners of my mouth to contain the big smile wanting to come out so my mom wouldn’t ask me too many questions.
My best friend had gone to live in New Zealand for a year, and two months had passed since she left. In my hands I held the 5 pages handwritten letter with rich details about her new life, the experiences she had, the people she met, and her perceptions of such a different way of living.
I couldn’t believe how cool was that. Because yes, we had email at that time, and also Skype for calling through the internet. So receiving a letter felt quite unexpected.
Especially after I realized that she had to:
Think about me
Make time to sit and write
Make it look nice and cute (she did!!)
Go physically to the post office and send it across the world
All of this to reach me.
For some reason, the letters, even though they took a month to reach me and another month to reach her, made us feel close to each other more than ever video call ever did.
It wasn’t just the letter or its contents, but each time I received a letter from her, I turned into a ritual. A moment to sit with her words and be present.
There was something about holding her words in my hands that made them feel more real, as if they could reach something deeper in me.
In four days, I will be leaving Portugal to live for five months somewhere in the jungle of Costa Rica. I have no idea where I’m going, although I heard it’s beautiful there.
My boyfriend was invited there for a work project, and I’m joining along. I’m excited, but I also worry about feeling isolated after building an engaged social life here in Portugal. Which brings me back to those letters from New Zealand. if physical connection mattered then, maybe it matters even more now.
Sure, chat apps, social media, and video calls are always there, but for some reason it doesn’t feel present enough.
That’s when it clicked for me: It seems like this is the perfect moment to go back to the old ways of connecting with people. Through the joy of physical things.
What if I create a letters circle?
I invite you to join the letters Circle
Each month, I will send you a physical letter 💌. Something you can hold, reread, and return to.
I’ll be sharing reflections about building inner authority, and developing self-trust, and one practical exercise in each letter that helps you develop deeper inner clarity.
I hope this becomes a monthly ritual for you to slow down and reconnect with yourself, as it will be for me while writing them to you.
Okay. Feeling excited? Me too! So, how does it work in practice?
Join the Letters Circle by upgrading your subscription.
You will receive an email with a form to share your mailing address.
Letters will be mailed every 17th of the month, or the next working day.
You’re welcomed to write back to me, or share your thoughts directly in the chat/email!
This feels like an exciting experiment, and you know how big I am on experimenting with things that bring us joy. I hope that this excites you as much as it does me, and I can’t wait to send you the first letter.
Warmly,
Nat
Did you ever have a letter, a postcard, or a note that stayed with you longer than any text ever could? When was the last time you received something in the mail that actually made you feel something?
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I still love stationary, even if I don't use it as much as I'd like. I recently found out a friend had a baby so I mailed her an arabic art calligraphy card with a box store gift card. She mailed me back the prettiest thank you ! We live in the same city but rarely see each other so it was lovely 😊
Comecei um projeto no Brasil, de autoconhecimento e sabedoria da natureza através de cartas personalizadas e escritas a mão. Estamos com um grupo de 21 pessoas. Todos estão gostando muito da experiência, da espera, das incertezas sobre o assunto da próxima carta. Adorei seu projeto!