Pen to Paper Challenge: Week 4

Pear Tree Greetings believes that paper is a form of connecting people, a great form, a real form. We know this because when we go to the mailbox, the first thing we open is the hand addressed envelope. Because inside waiting is a note card someone has taken the time to write especially for you. 

As a "Pearista" for Pear Tree Greetings, I accepted a challenge to write a hand written note once a week for four weeks. They provided me with 8 note cards, 4 for me and an additional 4 for the recipients to encourage them to write me back.

Week 4: I had a very hard time deciding who to send a note to this week. I work in the mental health field, and last week I was going through some cards and letters written to me by past and current patients and I suddenly knew who I should write to. When my father died  unexpectedly 4 years ago, I went through a very dark and difficult time. It was my first major loss in my life, and my whole world turned upside down in a matter of hours. I felt completely lost, depressed, and at times, hopeless. My great aunt recommended that I see a social worker that she knew. So that I would not have to miss work, my therapist came into her office early to provide me with grief counseling. It was so difficult being in the "patient" chair, but also extremely helpful. She helped me accept what I did not want to, that my father was dead. She was with me through the anger, the guilt, the depression, and finally the acceptance and spiritual growth that I ultimately received. She gave me a great gift, one that made me a better daughter to my mother, a better mother to my children, and a better therapist to my patients. She taught me what it truly means to accept life, as it is. So, with tears in my eyes, I wrote her a thank you note and let her know that I continue to do well today..thanks to her. Although writing the note did remind me of the pain that I had endured, it also reminded me how far I have come. My therapy may have ended, but writing this note reminded me that little doses of therapy in the form of the written word does the mind and the soul good!

Week 3 update: If you read last week's post, then you know that I surprised my children by mailing a letter for them to their grandmother's house where they were staying while my husband and I were in Las Vegas. My children were totally surprised and it was one of the first things my son mentioned to me on the phone. I also included two note cards for them to write us. Unfortunately, those got lost somewhere between Grandma's house and ours. We are still looking because they were so excited to give them to us!

I was provided with note cards to allow me to participate in this challenge. Pearistas who participate in this challenge are given the opportunity to win a $50 store credit. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.