Remember the magic

of handwritten letters?

Remember the days when we’d eagerly await handwritten letters in our mailboxes? There’s a magic in the personal, handwritten touch that nothing digital can replicate. But what if I told you that you could recapture that magic, nurture your inner light, and grow your spiritual wings—all by sending yourself some love each week? Handwritten letters, notes or voice memos are a magical way to connect to yourself.

When I was Fifteen, I Embarked on a Journey that Would Change My Life

As an Austrian kid from the countryside, I spent a year in Hong Kong, attending a Chinese school and living with a local family. Before I left home, I made a promise to my parents: I’d write them a letter every week. You got that right. Every week meant every. Single. week. And I held on to my promise.

Little did I know that those letters, written in moments of excitement, frustration, homesickness, and everything in between, would become so much more than updates for my family. Looking back, I realized they were letters to myself—capturing my growth, my challenges, and my evolving perspective on the world. To be honest, I never again wrote a letter every week, but I did keep up the practice of reflection and introspection in my journaling. This practice has accompanied me on all my stations around the world, and accompanies me today on this most important journey of mine—the journey within.

How to Start Writing Letters to Yourself

I like to choose a really nice notebook dedicated to these letters. It fills me with joy to anticipate the touch of the paper and the feel of my favorite fountain pen flowing across the page. Though, honestly, I get it if you just want to use your laptop. It will work the same.

Think about addressing a dear friend. Someone who you’d entrust your biggest secrets. And then, write whatever comes to mind.

Let the pen flow and don’t think about what you’re writing.

The key is to let the pen (or fingers) flow, and not to judge, think or even read. (Reading is for another time.)

What might you share? What might you reveal about yourself? Maybe even things you didn’t know yet? Perhaps you’d reflect on a moment when you felt truly alive. Or maybe vent about what really got to you, describe a challenge you’re facing in all the gritty details. You might celebrate a small victory or describe a moment that really got under your skin.

Remember, you’re not writing to create a perfect record of your life; you’re writing to capture whatever wants to reveal itself.

You Might Be Surprised At What You Discover

As you embark on this journey, you might be surprised at what you discover. Like my letters from Hong Kong, your reflections might become a treasured record of your personal growth, a reminder of your resilience, and a testament to your ever-evolving story. This practice isn’t about perfection, or tweaking your feelings to fit in. It’s about progress, self-discovery, and nurturing your inner light.

By treating myself like a trusted, good friend, I got closer and closer to exactly that – feeling like my own friend. Liking myself more. Being more compassionate with my own struggles. Learning more about my themes and patterns.

Letters are great –

but I’m too busy!

How I Adapted this Practice as a Busy Mom

Fast forward a couple of years, I found myself to be a mom with never enough hands, time, sleep or mental space available to keep up the practice. And even with the best of intentions, a week (or two, or three, or a month) would go by without a letter. And you know what? – That’s okay too. Instead of beating myself up about it, I went through the motions, checked in with myself, told myself it was fine. Everything is a phase. And then, I found ways to adapt the practice.

So remember, this isn’t about adding another task to your to-do list or creating a source of guilt if you miss a week. This is about giving yourself the gift of reflection, whenever and however you can. Some days it will be easy, others won’t. And that’s okay too.

So here’s what I do these days, and what you can do too:

Discover the power of voice memos to yourself!

Have a moment? Just one? – Close your eyes, send yourself a mental note. Smile.

Have a bit more than a moment? – Send a voice memo to yourself. It works wonders. You can do this using whatsapp or another messenger on your phone.

Have time to write? – Get cosy and type or write away! It feels so good and once you get (back) into it, you’ll want to keep it up!

As I said before, the exact format doesn’t matter; the connection does.

Now, what about you?

Curious? Ready to Try It for Yourself?

I’d love to hear about your experience if you decide to try this practice. Your story might just inspire others on their own journeys of self-discovery.