Day 30 – Writing a Kind Letter to Someone: Why It Matters for Mental Health

Today’s challenge is all about kindness—specifically, writing a letter to someone just to remind them they matter. And honestly? I think this is one of the most powerful things we can do—not just for others, but for ourselves too.

There’s actual science behind this: studies show that practicing kindness—even in small ways like writing a letter—has real benefits for mental health. One 2016 study published in the journal Emotion found that performing acts of kindness boosts happiness, lowers stress, and can even reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Another study from the Journal of Positive Psychology showed that when we express gratitude or kindness in a letter (even if we don’t send it), we experience a surge of positive emotions that can last for days.

It’s like a little ripple effect—when we take time to share kindness, we don’t just help someone else feel seen and loved; we help ourselves feel more connected, more at peace, and more grounded.

That’s why today, I chose to write my kind letter to you—yes, you reading this. Because you are part of this journey with me. You’re showing up, taking care of yourself, and maybe struggling a little, just like I am. And I want you to know: you matter. Your presence here matters. Your story matters. Your healing matters.

So, let’s keep going—one letter, one day, one kind moment at a time.

Here’s my letter to you, dear reader...

Dear You,

Yes, you—the person reading these words, the one who showed up here, whether you stumbled across this post by accident or you’ve been following my journey for a while.

I chose to write this letter to you. The person who’s been practicing self-care alongside me. The person who might be struggling, just needing a little kindness today. The person who’s trying, even when it’s hard.

I see you. I feel you. And I want you to know that you’re not alone.

This month has been a heavy one for me. Grief, memories, the weight of missing my son on Mother’s Day and my birthday. Camping helped—it reminded me that small joys are everywhere, like watching a chipmunk brave the world one nibble at a time, or learning to back up a trailer without taking out a tree (or another camper’s trailer—that was a win).

But some days are just heavy, aren’t they? And I want to tell you—it’s okay. It’s okay to feel sad. It’s okay to feel angry. It’s okay to not know what you feel at all.

And it’s okay to not be okay.

So I’m here to say: Be kind to yourself today. If you’ve been hard on yourself, let that go. If you’ve been holding it together for everyone else, maybe today you let yourself fall apart for a little while. And if you’re feeling strong today, use that strength to lift someone else up—or just keep it for yourself. That’s okay too.

I want to thank you for being part of this space. For reading these words. For walking alongside me, even when it’s messy. Your presence means more than you know.

You matter. You are seen. You are enough.

Sending you love, light, and a whole lot of grace today.

With kindness,Tammy