The Gift of Words

I wrote a book at roughly 8 years old.

It was hard cover, approximately 10 pages, and it involved the sea.

I was so proud of my creation at a young age.

Since that day, I’ve written various things.

Diary entries.

Book reports.

College essays.

Thank you cards.

A splattering of thoughts to friends, loved ones, and professionals.

Notes or notetaking, however; wasn’t my forte.

I’d keep a few post-it notes around but wasn’t something I thought about often.

Until I saw what a few words could do.

Some that I cherish:

1) Hand painted in dark black eyeliner on my bathroom mirror. “Your beautiful!” the note read. More mirrors should be plastered with this phrase.

2) A typed note to read if I was alone at a young age. How to date, how to be the best version of myself, and how to love. Every person should give and receive a note as beautiful as this one.

3) A handwritten note to dinner. Given by a loved one miles away via a stranger. A surprise, a gesture, and a moment.

To date, I have been given countless notes and they have changed the trajectory of my day and some my life. Some on fancy stationary, others scribbled on forgotten sheets of paper.

Notes about happiness, sorrow, and fears.

Notes about life, love, and adventure.

A few words to 100.

One person took the time to sit down and write their thoughts, feelings, and desires.

How often do we allow ourselves to give the gift of words?

A few months ago, I asked a question in the early hours of the morning to you about your desire to hear more stories about notes.

3 of you said yes.

So, I started writing.

Notes about people, feelings, and stories.

Notes that have meaning. To me, and maybe to you too.

Today, over 325 of you have said “yes.”

While I capture a moment in my words, I hope you take a moment to write your own.

To say “I love you” to a spouse, a child, or someone who means the world to you.

To say “You inspire me” to someone who needs to hear it.

To say “You changed my life” in whatever words those need to be.

Simply write it down and share it. To one or 1,000.

Fancy stationary or a forgotten piece of paper.

It won’t just change the reader, but the writer.

Thank you for writing, but also thank you for listening.

Happy New Year.

Just a Note.