Hello dear Patti,

If you or your loved ones are sick or self-isolating, I want to send you my love, and warmest wishes for a return to health and community. It’s hard to know what to say during these strange times, isn’t it: the world feels utterly out-of-kilter, and none of us has any prior experience to draw from. We are all pretty much making things up as we go along.

I will say that I have felt extraordinarily encouraged by witnessing moments, both small and grand, of human kindness and of joy triumphing over adversity. May we see more impromptu dance parties in Italy! More heartfelt cheering of healthcare-workers in France! More restauranteurs giving away food to the homeless in America! And more people delivering “I can help you” postcards in the UK and around the world!

(Actually, I’m compiling a big list of beautiful, joyful and kind things that people are doing right now to share on my blog so if you’ve heard of, witnessed or done anything, hit “reply” and let me know.)

Dispatches from isolation

If self-isolation and social distancing have left you yearning for closer contact, I do encourage you to reach out and write the people you love some letters. Most postal services are still operating domestically (some internationally as well, although that is changing a lot more rapidly).

As I said last week, writing to someone is a powerful way for you to feel less isolated or alone, even if you are trapped indoors on your own. For someone who is quarantined or self-isolating, your letter is like a hug, and the time you give to properly reading a letter from them is a listening ear, or possibly even the shoulder they need to cry on.

Mail-art, mail-art, mail-art

I’m busy creating some new templates for this newsletter, and I hope to send them to you soon. In the meantime, I have gathered together all the templates I shared during the past two years as a big, handy resource for you right here.

I hope they inspire some creative, calm and mindful colouring in your home, and bring joy to the people you love. They are all shared for you below - just scroll through and pick any you like - click on the descriptions to download PDF templates.

(If you’re new here, each of the designs below is an envelope template that you can print, cut around, paste, and post. The illustration is there for you to colour in or embellish, with space allowed for a stamp and postal address. Use my coloured versions, pictured, if you need guidance or inspiration).

Stuck for words?

If you’re stuck for something to say, I’ve got you covered! This weekend I asked the students in my letter writing course what they have been sharing in their letters to loved ones… and what they’d love to read in letters they received right now. They are letter-writing superstars and I’ve gathered their answers below to inspire your own letters:

“I've been compiling a ‘currently’ list. What I'm currently reading, watching, listening to, eating, making, etc.” - Kristin

“I have been writing about the walks I have been taking beside the ocean, through the forest and beside lakes. My gardening activities (weeding and planting fresh crops) and the great conversations I have had (at a distance) with neighbours and strangers as I work in the garden.  The friendly, greatly-spaced-out line up on the sidewalk outside the bakery - and the warm-from-the-oven hot cross buns and pain au chocolat I purchased.  I have also written about the great get-togethers I imagine we will all have once social distancing and self isolation is a thing of the past!” - Louise

“Things I’m thankful for right now. Things that I’m finding joy in. Blessings amidst the craziness. Anything positive.” - Julie

“I've been sharing ideas for parents who are suddenly home with their kids. It started in individual notes—friends whose kids' schools have closed writing me for advice.” - Lissa

“So far I've posted a geography quiz to my grandmother with handwritten questions, next week I'll post the answers. And plan to do a history quiz soon and perhaps anatomy as she used to be a nurse.” - Carly

“We should all write big thanks to postmen on the envelopes right now for the joy they are spreading in these hard times...” - Claire

“How to continue exercising and taking care of your mental health.” - Natalia

“The season changes I’m seeing and appreciating, talk about the process and thoughts of the  latest craft I’m trying- why it appealed to me and anything hard/satisfying about it, books I’m reading or movies I’m watching, how the dandelions are back and winning the war” - Norma

“An affirmation of the power of goodness, kindness and the caring that people have shown. An example from Jean: ‘Tonight on the news, I saw restaurant owners and chefs in New York who were transforming their empty restaurants into soup kitchens of a sort and creating food for those who might be hungry in their neighborhoods.  Families in need were brought to tears with the unexpected kindness of these people.’” - JoRene

“Something about how we’re feeding our family and what new recipes we’ve tried and maybe include even a recipe that we like.” - Jean

“I’ve been sharing recipes with friends and have been inspired to bake more.” - Hannah

“I’ve been sending ideas I see for craft to friends and teachers.” - Julie

“I like to share what photography and art I’m working on. And updates with my dogs.” - Kim

“What about a story about a personal interaction you had during the week?” - Jen

Share with a friend

If you have any friends who you think would enjoy these templates and tips, please feel free to forward this email to them, or click “view in browser” at the top of this email, and send that to them. These are all absolutely free.

And if you are reading this but are not a subscriber and would like to be, you can subscribe to receive future missives (they come monthly-ish) via this link.

With love and light,
Naomi xo