More Love Letters
Have you ever had one of those mornings where you have no choice but to wake up on the wrong side of the bed because your bed is against a wall and there is only one side to get out of?
Today was one of those mornings.
It seemed as if anything that could go wrong, did, and as I arrived at work I felt stuck in an overwhelming funk of negative energy. I ran through my usual list of opening chores and forced myself to take an extra few minutes to make a cup of tea and recenter.
I grabbed my keys and took a deep breath before unlocking the door, feeling lighter but unprepared for the day’s work ahead of me – this blog post. I scan the list of topics I jotted down in a late night brainstorming session but couldn’t seem to drum up the inspiration to follow through on any of them.
The soft tinkle of the door bells save me from my head scratching and I beam at the first customers of the day, eager for the distraction. They make their purchase as quickly as they arrive, however, and I am left alone with the judgmental stare of a blank computer screen. I type a few words in the direction of custom holiday gifts and backspace each letter with just enough force that I know I need to focus on something else for a bit.
I vacuum, then return to my screen. – And…nothing.
I restock the card shelves. – And…nope.
I break down cardboard boxes in the basement. – Zilch.
Frustrated, and with a dwindling to-do list, I take to tidying. I line up corners of boxed notes with obsessive focus and turn my attention to the bulk paper shelves. That’s when I see it, an envelope camouflaged against the stack behind it in every way except one – the words, “this letter is for you,” penned across its front.
“For me? Why, thank you!”
I pluck the envelope from the shelf and take out the card inside, it reads:
“Hey you,
You look good today. Not because of your clothes or accessories or whatever. I think you look good because you’re you. With your nose and eyes and mouth and ears, your hands and feet and skin and nails. I think you’re super cool – an awesome person – and I hope you think so too.
You are smart and complex and authentic. You are a fantastic you. Thanks so much for being you and getting out of bed today and putting your feet on the floor and choosing yes, you are going to get up and do your thing today and live and breathe and face whatever comes, even if it’s hard. Thanks for breathing a little more life into the world by rising and just being you.
Love, A girl who is on your getting-up-and-being-you team. :)”
I share her words because, even though I was the lucky human who happened upon her letter, she meant them for you.
And you…and you.
And yes, you too.
And me.
How special that a random stranger had the compassion and intuition to leave that letter. She made my day, she made this blog post, and she left a wave of inspiration.
Write more letters. It’s a sentiment I share with nearly every customer who walks through our door. But when we are brainstorming the perfect card to send to the perfect person, I have not once suggested a stranger. That stops today, because as it turns out, the perfect person is everybody. So write more letters. More letters for no reason. More letters to nobody in particular.
More love letters.
– Long live snail mail –
