When was the last time you wrote a letter?

Not a quick text.

Not an email dashed off between meetings or errands. 

 A real letter — written slowly, with intention, meant for just one person.

 I was thinking about this after reading the novel - The Correspondent,by Virginia Evans, just published last year. 

It’s quietly taken off… and what makes it so compelling isn’t a dramatic plot or big reveal.

The entire book is told through letters — the correspondence of the main character, a woman in her 70's navigating her life, grief, regrets, successes, and of course, connection. 

At first blush, it doesn’t feel extraordinary.

But on second glance, it captures something deeper — everyday life, and the threads of connection that shape it.

Last weekend I spent time with close friends, talking, sharing, and laughing nonstop. By the end of it, I felt lighter, calmer, and more like myself again. It was a powerful reminder that joy and connection aren’t luxuries—they’re essential habits for a long, energized life.

For nearly 40 years, Labor Day Weekend has marked a “Same Time Next Year” tradition of gathering with my college friends. We all hold that weekend sacred, ensuring it has a permanent spot on our calendars. Year after year, we journey to the same place and spend the weekend together, comfortably reconnecting as though no time has passed.

 I am immensely grateful for this ritual of gathering.  It’s a constant reminder of the vital role friendship plays in our lives.