Dear Stranger,
I am so curious if you found my website through one of the 500 letters I plan to scatter throughout Europe. I am currently on a mission to carry on my big sister’s legacy throughout Europe. My sister passed away from cancer in 2018 and since then, I have made it my goal to honor her in all that I do. She studied abroad in Amsterdam the fall of 2017, and traveled all throughout Europe. Before passing away, she left us with a Bucket List to carry on in her memory. The majority of her goals consisted of places she wished to travel to… proving true that at the end of the day, all that really matters are the memories we make and who we make them with. I have spent the last 8 years checking off her Bucket List. My next goal, is to visit all of the same countries she did while in Europe.
On top of honoring my sister, I have always said, it is my number one goal in life, “to meet as many different people as I can, from as many different walks of life.” I believe everyone has their own unique wisdom to offer in this world. We have all walked different paths, yet we are all more alike than different. Our experiences are different, yet, the emotions we feel are universal. As a result, I thought it would be cool to ask strangers from all different walks of life, their best piece of advice for the world.
If you are someone to have found 1 of the 500 letters, I believe it is no coincidence that this letter has found you. I have always been a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and wholeheartedly believe I am meant to cross paths with every human I meet… even if it’s only a soft smile exchanged in the coffee shop. Needless to say, I believe it is no coincidence that this letter has found you.
The last goal on my sister’s Bucket List is to “publish her journal.” She had her own blog, www.climbinontrees.com that she created to document her semester abroad. She loved to write and even left us behind with journals she gave us permission to publish one day. As a result, it is my goal to one day write a book. My vision is for it to be both a memoir and autobiography, combining both of our passions, reflections, and wisdom on life. In addition, I hope to include the wisdom of strangers from my European adventure in one of the chapters in my book one day. I think there is so much power and potential in the advice from strangers because sometimes, the hardest thing to do in life is to take our own advice.
Human connection is the most fundamental need our systems crave. It has the ability to bring us closer with one another, to inspire, create, set intentions, and spark new ideas. So wherever this message lands you, know that your light is needed in this world. We all have something to offer… whether it be music, art, talent, wisdom, etc. So take this as your sign to go chase your craziest, wildest dreams. We don’t know how much time we have on this Earth and so instead of waiting for the perfect moment, simply just do it. I have to admit, the perfect moment might not even come, because ready is not a feeling, it is a decision. Yet, the moment you decide you’re ready, life will unfold for you in the most beautiful, magical way. Let go of external validation and trust the process. You never know where the decision that once sounded delusional might take you.
You are the author of your own story… all you have to do, is pick up the pen and start writing.
Scroll to the bottom for my best piece of advice.