When the letter arrives at just the right moment!

Sometimes we feel so alone and sad, that almost nothing can take away the heaviness in our chest. It does not need be linked to a major trauma… Sometimes we feel alone in a meeting, sometimes at a dinner with friends… Those are the times we look for a familiar comfort, something to help us to take a deep breath…

It was 2017 February and I left my home country, my job, my friends and family behind and started a new life. I was expecting a fairy tale to be honest… A new warm home, a new career and most importantly a new country full of adventure and possibility…

Well, the first month I was there, February, was a really cold, dark and rainy month in Luxembourg. It was hard to feel the positive vibes especially with all the grey weather.

I had made a significant shift in my career by moving - back home I was successful and very much in my comfort zone with my previous employer. I realized that in order to learn and adapt to my new job, I needed to allow myself a “Benjamin Button” moment and had to leave my ego aside and start again... With all the loneliness, I was questioning my decisions and constantly asking myself, “If I should quit it all and just go home”.

This thought often hit me hardest during WhatsApp calls with my family, I was really missing the warmth of my sister’s sofa. Whenever I feel depressed or lonely, her sofa was my bed, crying in her lap and sleeping on her sofa. My niece, Melis, was only 18 months back then; but she was also coming and hugging me while I was crying (kids are miracles 🙏🏻)

On one of those gray days, I was in the office and trying to figure out an excel formula (with a lot of help from a 'How to' videos for dummies on YouTube), when I got an email from the front desk reception saying that “ You've got a letter, please come down to collect it”.

I don’t remember the last time I got a letter from someone. With the ease of technology, hand written letters have become a memory that is almost fading away for us all.

I went down to reception and got the letter. When I opened it, I found drawings from my niece, she was 4 years old that time. She loved cats and had painted some pages of me and her imaginary cat. There was also a little hand-written note from my sister as well.

In that moment I shed a little tear and took a deep breath to inhale the deep gratitude for the love that was there for me and exhaled out the loneliness and darkness I had been feeling up to that point.

A simple handmade letter made my day shine! ☀️

Almost 4 years later, in November 2020…I was in Luxembourg again. This time the settings was totally different…I was counting the days until my official marriage day, enjoying living in this country and surrounded by people I care. I was feeling so blessed with everything that this journey had given me.

Due to Covid restrictions, visas were suspended, and my family weren't allowed to fly to Luxembourg and could only join the day via Zoom. My mind was justifying this with, “It's better for everyone’s health. You will see them this summer and celebrate even bigger” but sometimes your mind and heart can go in total opposite directions.

And I got another letter!

And as you might have guessed from my lovely niece (and with my sister behind the scenes)!

In that moment I felt the feelings I had experienced before repeat…a deep breath to inhale the deep gratitude for the love that is there and exhale the heaviness.

Crying is healing and sharing a tear for love is the deepest one. Especially when the letters arrive at the right moment, although the sender might not know that…

I haven't shared this story before on my newsletter but I was inspired this last week by my dear friend Natalia.

Natalia is a believer of hand-written letters and hand-made surprises! She was the one who gave me idea to share this story after seeing the picture of the letter. On her IG @mybilletdoux she showed a special cushion she's created where you can send and keep special notes (which I will send to my niece one day! 😀)

She is a dreamer who puts her heart and soul into her hand-written, hand-made gifts business. If you want to explore her work you can check out her website here.

For all the dreamers… the inner child guides that … And this cutie, gorgeous butterfly is my niece Melis

With Love,
Gül