Author: Allyson Proulx

Allyson Proulx is a writer, artist, and speaker. Playing Paper is the name of her social enterprise that offers abolitionist workshops, and note passing services.

31 Days of Gratitude

Yesterday, someone asked me if what I am doing with this project was a part of the ‪#‎21daysofgratitude‬ stream on Facebook. I have given it some thought, and I would like to share my thoughts with you.

The outward articulation of gratitude is important, it is vital to living whole, happy lives. But there is a difference between expressing gratitude for the THINGS in our lives, and expressing gratitude to the PEOPLE in our lives. With this project, I don’t just want to say ‘I am thankful for music’, I want to write the person who makes the music, or plays the music, and say ‘Thank you for bringing joy into my life every time I hear you play.’ Does that make sense? Do you see the difference? This project of mine, and yours too if you choose to participate, is about uplifting both ourselves and OTHERS; it is about allowing our own personal expression of gratitude to multiply and positively affect the lives of those we come in contact with everyday. In this way, the joy found in expressing gratitude compounds with the joy produced in receiving such a gift. Quality human expression/connection is the ultimate aim and result of this project, and I can attest to it’s success – my life, and the relationships I foster, only get better and better with each card I write.

So, that being said, I encourage you to express gratitude every chance you get, and every way you can. I encourage you to look for the opportunities given you everyday to say ‘Thank you’. Take them, it will change the imprint you leave on this world.

All my love,

Lefty Smudges

A Love Letter Workshop

Last week, on Tuesday to be exact, I went to Chatham to host a Love Letter-Writing Workshop.

Cut-out hearts were folded into envelopes. Hole punchers, glue sticks, craft paper, and card stock were there to play with and create. Sealing wax was provided to put the final touch on every letter made to be mailed away.

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The participants came with hearts open wide, and words to match. The writers who came out to this event put their hearts on the page, and tested their courage when it came to expressing this thing called Love. There were mothers and friends…and a lone stranger who walked in from the cold – he had heard of the workshop only an hour before, and thinking ‘my girlfriend would love that!’ came to try his hand at writing her (his openness and simplicity added such a beauty to the night – I hope they both love what was created there).

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The Love Letters were mailed the next day (after taking copious amounts of pictures), which means they should be arriving any day now…hearts will be sent a flutter, and romances made to blossom, I’m sure.

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This thing called love, this avenue paved with letters that takes us to it, it is beautiful, and it is worth every word written on the page.

I hope to run many many more workshops like this one. Seeing people pick up a pen, seeing how they sit and ponder the words to write, being exposed to their creativity and heart, makes my heart beat faster, makes my mission clearer still, and supplies me with inspiration to last until the next time….