I’d love to invite you into community with me. 

I’ve been trying to figure out what is the space between hanging out in person and more regular posting on social media. Especially since the pandemic, in-person options are limited. But also feed scrolling and constant updates are exhausting.

I think the answer is pen pals. 

Do you remember pen pals?? Do you remember when sharing with strangers still felt like an intimate connection? 

I remember myself in elementary school, furiously translating my heart into words and sending them off in an envelope to a friend I had made who lived on the other side of the world. 

This was before I discovered AIM and MSN messenger (if you know, you know!), so nothing else really compared. It was my first taste of vulnerability’s magic - all you had to do was share and somehow you felt a little more seen and a little more connected.

I created this newsletter to be able to recreate that again, with you. 

First of all, yes, this is another email. I know. A small part of me is also cringing.

If you’re anything like me, your inboxes are overflowing with paid advertisements from companies, sale promotions, work correspondence, unintelligible bots, and requests from people you don’t know for favors - like your social security information. 

More spending, more urgency, more noise. More more.

But this letter is not promotional, it’s personal. 

I wanted to build a space to feel connected to you where I wasn’t overwhelmed by distractions and marketing. More substance and less spamming.

Every month I’ll write to you and share the things that are on my heart and mind: literature, ideas, events, reflections, resources, updates, jokes, sneak peeks, lessons… things I hope will bring you a little joy, inspiration, calm, or tenderness as you move through the world.

Read, listen, watch, save, forward to others, write me back if you’d like - whatever serves you best. It’s an open invitation. 

If you’re in, sign up  below.

Always wishing you peace and pleasure,

Shadeen