The Shalom letter

Thank you everyone...

Jun 24, 2025

One year ago today, I began The Shalom Letter. I didn't even know what I was doing. The thought sprang up from nowhere. Aha! What if I begin a newsletter?

Well, not totally from nowhere :D I read an article about rekindling old habits, and I thought, Okay, why did I stop journaling? It was something I enjoyed doing in the past.

This thought about rekindling journaling coincided with a season in my life when I was trying to process a lot of things.

Writing became a way to let everything out, to understand what I truly felt and the release of seeing my emotions on paper was so freeing.

And my journal, it just listened. It didn't judge me when I didn't punctuate, kept writing on and on, paused to think or wrote whatever I felt like.

The Shalom letter was a result of rekindling journaling— I wanted to share my thoughts.

I journal almost every day and it's just so calming.

The week I decided to start writing on Substack, I spent the weekend setting it up—writing, picking the right colors, my message— what I wanted to share. I chose to write letters about peace, tranquility, quiet, a blend of different things. I even wrote an article one time about how to deal with embarrassing memories—the ones you don't want to remember: Dealing with embarrassing memories

My first follower on Substack was Gentle and fearless.I was so excited that someone followed me…💜

The first newsletter I subscribed to was

The Rebuild Compass

Georgia Clare

restacked one of my letters, and I got my first two subscribers on Substack from her network…Thank you : )

My first subscriber was my sister—

Janet

❤️and she is my number one fan. Thanks, Sis : )

I watched my substack feed gradually change based on my interest in nature and quite.

I discovered

Colin Durrant

’s notes. They were mostly about nature, and I got invaluable lessons from his stories and letters. He was always liking and sharing my posts, which helped me gain more subscribers… I'm grateful 🙏❤️

And yes,

Janet Goh

: ) She's always bringing so much happy vibes and warmth…Thank you💝 The jokes in some of her letters are really funny :D

I've not only read but felt

Darcy Dudeck

’s letters. They touch something inside and helped with healing…🙏🖤🌻

And at a time, I needed it,

Oncloudcyy

’s letters were like a warm hug—it felt like floating in the clouds.

SinC (Clint){💎}

has helped me become more aware and avoid autopilot…Thank you 🩵

Jane Deegan