what to say in a letter to someone you dont know

As this Covid-19 virus is keeping a big part of the Us indoors, we might be inclined to just turn on Netflix and wait out our time. Only what if we tin can practice something more impactful? Similar writing to people who are truly isolated: elderly in nursing homes, people with immune diseases, and and so many more? If y'all are feeling overwhelmed past the thought of writing a letter to a complete stranger, I have you covered! Below you will discover some great ideas on what you can write.

Why do it in the showtime place?

You might experience super excited to take a few days off of work, and just get to spend some time at dwelling house. Simply for a lot of people, this is already a reality in their day-to-twenty-four hours life. Elderly in nursing homes don't leave their residences as much as you lot and I, with maybe a few trips outside throughout the yr as their highlights. Now with the extra precautions taken to protect their physical health, the far majority of elderly volition receive little to no visitations in the coming months. Loneliness is already very mutual among the elderly. While I am all for keeping them physically healthy, I tin only imagine what these measures are doing to their emotional wellbeing. And while nosotros have plenty of online avenues to reach each other (Facetime, Zoom, etc), not all elderly are as tech savvy.

Writing a letter of the alphabet gives someone a bit of distraction from their mean solar day-to-day routine. Moreover, seeing their name on an envelope shows them that someone is thinking of them – that they are loved! That someone took the time and effort to write them a letter, share a story, tell them that they thing. It has a big impact on someone! And while a Skype telephone call may elevator someone'southward spirits for a bit, a letter is something they tin look back on and re-read multiple times. Don't ever underestimate the ability a written word can take on someone. It can calm their fretfulness and help create tangible memories.

At present: what the heck can I write to someone I don't know? Below you discover some ideas to get you started.

Just start writing

Starting a letter to a stranger might feel intimidating, only one time you start, I can clinch you lot – words will starting time flowing. My best tip: write as if you started a conversation with someone in the line at the grocery store. Tell them about the weather, what is going on in your life, or a funny thing y'all read on the internet. Annihilation goes!

Write something encouraging

While it might be easy to unload your worries and frustrations on newspaper, letters to strangers are an act of kindness: brand sure yours brings joy! Write something that will encourage someone in a fourth dimension of loneliness. Maybe an write inspiring anekdote, recite a poem that inspires you or share a life lesson. Something that might seem modest to you lot can have a large influence on a stranger, so go with your gut.

Write something thoughtful

Ane affair that lonely people don't hear oftentimes enough is that they matter. That someone is thinking of them. That they have worth. Seeing those words on newspaper, can attain someone deep in their center – and can be even more powerful than hearing those words said in person. Something about words on a paper makes it real, solidifies them, makes them more true. And as mentioned before, messages can exist re-read over and over.

Write something personal

Another way to approach a letter to a stranger, is to write something about yourself! Write about the family unit you have, and how they bring you joy at the moment. What life lessons you learn. Possibly talk most your own grand parents, what did you learn from them? Reading nigh someone's life can form a great lark for a lonely person. It lets them live vicariously through your story, and give them hope for the time to come. When talking about yourself though, brand sure y'all still focus on the other person: don't make it all nigh yourself!

Topics to avoid + Best practices

As you write your letter to a stranger, please remember: they are a stranger! This seems very logical, merely you don't know where they stand on topics as faith and politics. It is therefore best to avert those kinds of topics. Some best exercise tips:

• Write legible and slightly larger than you lot normally would: not everybody has 20/20 eyesight!
• Write your letter past hand – this makes it then much more personal than a typed-up letter.
• Don't make your alphabetic character too long: 1 page should exist more than than enough. Even simply a post card with a curt message makes someone's brighter! Curt and sweet is great.
• Writing a letter to a stranger is an act of kindness: make sure your letter is not near yous, but really lifts upwardly the other.
• Don't outright ask them to write back, or write in a manner that compels them to respond. This puts pressure on an act that should simply bring joy. Experience free to include your render address to give them the option to write yous back, but don't put the expectation on them to write.
• Still stuck? The Messages To Strangers project has created some sample letters to get your juices flowing! I also included 2 sample letters I sent to the outset 2 addresses submitted myself! Y'all tin can as well follow these Instagram accounts for inspiration and letters to strangers: @lettertoastranger, @l2smentalhealth, @strangersproj.

Bonus Points

Some means to brand your letter even more than impactful:

• Be creative! Use colors, your craft skills, anything! It instantly gives joy to whoever opens it!
• Involve the kids. Now that schools are closed for the foreseeable future, consider writing a letter to a stranger as a fun way to fill the afternoon! Have them each draw a beautiful cartoon, and write a small note with their personal message to accompany their drawing. In an afternoon, you can change the lives of 2-iii elderly.

Dearest Notes

Every bit mentioned earlier, the elderly in our community volition actually feel the effects of this Covid-19 virus. I am doing my function in placing value on this group through a new project: Love Notes. You can send me your letter of the alphabet to a stranger, and I transport it, in a calligraphy-addressed envelope, to someone in my database that truly deserves it. Yous tin can contribute to this database by submitting an address as well, if you know someone who needs a piffling scrap of extra snail post love in this time.

Another way to make a deviation: gild a letter kit, which comes with a cute bespoke flat card, addressed to your loved 1, and a calligraphy-addressed envelope – ready to go with postage.

Sample Letters

At present if you even so need some inspiration, here are two letters I wrote to the get-go ii strangers submitted to the address list.

Sample Letter 1

Howdy y'all!
Nosotros don't know each other, simply I just want to encourage yous today in this crazy time nosotros are living!
I came across this verse form today, and I idea I'd share it with you today!
" When things beginning to feel
Like things should have
Been ameliorate this year,
Recall the mountains and valleys
That got you here.
They are not accidents,
And those moments weren't in vain
You are not the same.
You have grown and you are growing
You are breathing, yous are living.
You are wrapped in
endless
dizzying
grace.
And things will get better.
There is more to you than yesterday"
– Morgan Harper Nichols

I don't know your state of affairs right now, but just know you are not lonely. At that place is someone thinking of yous.
– Sincerely,
Charlotte

Sample Letter ii

Hey y'all!
You don't know me, and I don't know y'all. But that is totally ok!
My name is Charlotte, and virtually probable, I am not in the aforementioned position in life every bit y'all. Merely we accept something in common: in this time nosotros probably both miss our loved ones.
My family is all overseas, in kingdom of the netherlands, and I was supposed to go visit them final week, after not seeing them for a year and a half. Naturally, I was super bummed to have to cancel my trip.
Now, I could have wallowed in that loss, and let it touch on me and my activities this week. But I am not a victim, and I don't desire to let my emotions dictate my deportment.
And so I started looking at the positive things this situation has brought me – I am seeing my married man more, since his shop is closed and he is at home. I talk to my mom more, only to catch upward – besides as my sisters. Yesterday, I got to tape a crafting video that volition assistance bring some kids joy and a way to limited themselves! I would for sure not have idea to do that if March had gone the way I planned it.
All this to say – I hope y'all get to see some silver linings in this uncertain fourth dimension. Any small shimmer tin can give us the hope to move forrad!
And if you tin can't right now – that is ok. Nobody can arraign you lot. I just hope this little annotation brings you a little joy – just know I am thinking of you lot!
– Sincerely,
Charlotte

About Charlotte

Charlotte is a calligrapher and wedding ceremony invitation designer in San Antonio, Texas. Through her studio, CalliRosa, Charlotte provides calligraphy services, from place cards and envelopes to custom invitations and wedding signs. Acquire more most CalliRosa and what Charlotte can do for your hymeneals or next effect!

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Source: https://callirosa.com/what-write-letter-stranger/

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