Week Four Inspiration from Tiny
Tiny and Snail notecards are among my favorites, and I’ve had the honor of getting to know Leah Nixon Fitzgerald (“Tiny”), the artist behind the cards and cofounder of the company with her sister Grace (“Snail”). Their story is dramatic and inspiring, and knowing it makes every one of their cards even more special. Tiny shared this wonderful reflection on her blog post “Can Kindness Cure the Common Cold?”:
Cards are a quick tool to harness the power of the mind. They help us focus our attention on someone else (empathy), and they help us dwell in gratitude for that person. A card is a great way to practice kindness, so I hope you take a few minutes to write one or two this week.
Week Four Tip: Take stock
When these four weeks are over, take a little time to look back and think about the progress you made, the frustrations you had, and the lessons you learned. Set your intention to keep making progress by equipping yourself with what you need to enjoy a thriving, happy, and productive note and letter-writing life.
Remember, you can start any time and go at your own pace. For your convenience, here’s the link to what’s already been posted:
Goal #1: Write a letter a day for five days every week
The April Calendar for Note and Letter Writers will give you some ideas, but here are some daily tips, prompts, or ideas to “prime the pump” for your writing:
Week Four:
Day 1, Overcoming Challenges: Share a story of a challenge you've overcome with someone who might be facing their own hurdles.
Day 2, Poetry: Write a short poem and send it to someone, explaining why you wrote it or what it means to you. In “Two Easy Ways to Spice Up Your Thank You Notes,” I wrote about using ditties and Haiku.
Day 3, Community Issue: Write a letter to a local representative about an issue in your community you care about.
Day 4, Random Acts of Kindness: Share ideas for random acts of kindness in a note and encourage the recipient to perform one. OR perform a random act of kindness by leaving a love note in a public place addressed to “Whoever picks up this Note.”
Day 5, Reflection on Growth: Reflect on how you've grown in the past year and share this reflection with someone close to you. Encourage them to write back and tell you about an insight or lesson they’ve learned in the last year.
Goal #2: Find a writing space or give your existing space a make-over
xxx
Week Four: Establishing a Routine and Maintenance
Days 1-2: Create a writing schedule
Decide on regular times dedicated to writing. It could be daily or several times a week, but consistency helps solidify any good habit.
Inform your household of your schedule to minimize interruptions. Good luck with this one. Even the “Genius at Work” sign I put on my office door when I was trying to concentrate was only marginally helpful in stopping interruptions.
Days 3-4-: Test and Adjust
Spend time writing in your new space. Note any discomfort or items you may have overlooked. The most common psychological problem for me is clutter, so I try to be vigilant about keeping my space clear.
Make necessary adjustments to your setup or routine based on your experience.
Days 5-7: Reflect and plan forward
Reflect on your experience setting up and using your new space. What worked well? What could be improved?
Plan any future additions or changes to your space or routine. Consider setting new goals for your writing. Make them reasonable and do-able based on your own life and other commitments. With practice, you’ll find you can write heartspoken notes in very small pockets of time, especially if your pen and paper are readily available.
Tips and suggestions for using your space
Keep your space tidy. As mentioned above, a clutter-free environment reduces stress and boosts creativity.
Occasionally change up the decor or layout to keep your space fresh and inspiring. This can be as simple as moving a couple of things around or adding a green plant or a small picture.
Consider having a "writing ritual" to help transition into a creative mindset, such as brewing a cup of tea or playing soft music. A writing coach I once had started her day with fixing a cup of coffee, stepping outside to take a deep breath and appreciate the natural world, and then going straight to her office to write. These became “time-to-write” triggers for her.
Invest in quality writing tools that make the process enjoyable. This can be as simple as finding a pen that feels right in your hand or using stationery you love. I enjoy trying different ink colors too.
Goal #3: Get more creative with your correspondence
Week Four: Reflection and Expansion
Days 1-2: Reflect on feedback: By now, you might have received some responses to your letters. What did recipients enjoy? What could be improved?
Day 3-4: Explore digital tools: Investigate digital tools and apps that can enhance your creativity. This might include apps for digital note-taking, design software for creating digital stationery, or platforms for sharing your letters with a wider audience. I use Trello to jot down people’s names when they come to mind.
Day 5-7: Planning future letters: Spend the last days of the month planning your future letters. Consider creating a letter-writing schedule, setting goals for who you want to write to, and brainstorming themes for your letters. Not everyone needs to do this, though. If it feels too structured, just get in the habit of tapping into your conscience/intuition for someone who needs to hear from you.
Reflect on how the process has affected you. Has it made you more thoughtful, creative, or connected? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
Goal #4: Write more to those in need of love and encouragement
Week Four: Expanding Your Impact
Explore broader outreach. Look beyond your immediate circle to people who might greatly benefit from your letters, such as residents in nursing homes, soldiers overseas, or individuals in shelters.
Research organizations that facilitate letter exchanges with people in need of support. I wrote a post about organizations who promote correspondence with veterans and active military personnel: “Send a Smile.” Google “letter-writing ministries” or “letter-writing charities” and you’ll find more than you need.
Write at least one letter to someone you don't personally know, offering general words of encouragement and support. This can be someone you read about in the paper or heard about through the grapevine. It can be a cashier at your favorite grocery store or your mail carrier.
Tips:
Consider writing to the boss or supervisor of someone who has given you good service. be specific about what they did that was noteworthy and ask them to put your note into that person’s personnel file.
Reflect on what you've learned about empathy and connection through this process.
Share your experience with friends or on social media to inspire others to write as well.
Final Reflections
Reflect on your journey. Revisit your original goals and consider how this practice has affected you and those you've reached out to. Think about how you can incorporate a more robust note and letter-writing habit into your life moving forward. Remember that the quality of your connection and sincerity in your messages far outweigh the quantity of letters sent. This journey is not just about writing notes and letters; it's about fostering connections, offering support, and spreading kindness.
Please leave comments about your experience this month!
Could you please do me a favor?
If you enjoyed this post, please leave a comment, hit the heart button, and share it with a friend or on social media. If you’re a Substack author, please consider recommending or restacking it if you think your readers would enjoy it.