Satisfied Customer
I’ve thought about putting a testimony page on this Web site—testifying to my letter writing skills that is. But something about a whole testimony page seems too self-serving. (This is why I’m a writer and not a business person!) Today, however, I’d like to post a response I received from a man I wrote a letter on behalf of. I was feeling bad yesterday and this reaction made me feel oh so good. It was a well timed shot for my self-esteem, but I recognize that such shots are not always so well timed. What I’m trying to work on these days is being the source of my own self-esteem. In other words, not needing anyone or anything to tell me I’m a thoughtful, talented person but being able to tell myself that on days such as yesterday. This—as with anything—requires balance. You also have to be able to say to yourself, “Um, slow down there shorty. You are not the end all be all.” I liken loving yourself to loving a child—you have to know when to administer positive reinforcement and when to enact discipline.
I had a bout of self-uncertainty yesterday. Nothing I haven’t encountered before, and I’m sure I’ll encounter much worse in future. This e-mail swooped in, however, and reminded me that my very random pursuit of writing letters for people is, in fact, a worthy one:
“Your letter is the best thing I’ve ever read about my life. You are so talented and I can’t thank you enough. Even if Joey never contacts me after receiving the letter, I am ready to move on in peace and serenity.”
July 15th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Hi Samara. For privacy reasons I know you can’t reveal details of the letter you wrote, but can you let us know under what general ‘genre’ this letter falls i.e breakup, goodbye, etc.? It sounds like it was a beautiful letter.
As an avid letter writer I can attest to their power to change lives and outlooks. I think it is quite wonderful that you were able to do this for her and that she reached out to you as well. See, we just never know what a letter, regardless how brief, can do for someone.
July 15th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
I just realized the letter writer is male. Sorry about that!
July 16th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
I can give you some distant details Hope. Thanks for asking. It was an apology letter. Long after the break-up, one party saw more clearly what he had done wrong and was apologizing for it. But he knows that the person he’s writing to may not want to write him back. It has yet to be seen.
July 16th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
You ARE talented!
July 17th, 2009 at 10:13 am
Do you write letters or have guidelines for when you don’t really need to apologize but want an apology? Or, really, need to apologize for part of it but want an apology still for something bigger? And you’re not as angry as when you first fired off the email but it’s going on a year and it took you that long to not be that angry. And you’re thinking of them more and even having dreams and want to tell them news and miss them but are still really, really hurt and don’t know what they will say?
What do you call that kind of letter?
July 17th, 2009 at 10:34 am
Joselle ~ Step into my office . . .