Breakfast Chats: A Surprise In My Mailbox (+ An Easy DIY)
Also asking for coffee suggestions
“Breakfast Chats” is a lighter series, where I share short musings and conversational tidbits about life things. It’s a regular, monthly feature that I’ve made open for access, through the year of 2024, to all subscribers, both free and paid.
I’m writing this today from my living room, but before anything else, I wanted to thank you guys SO much for all the love on the anniversary post I sent out some days ago. I’ve been saving your messages, and I cannot tell you what they’ve meant to me. I’m going to get into this more on my Instagram later, but for now we are here with Breakfast Chats.
1. A Letter in My Mailbox
So earlier this week, I’d stepped out to check our mailbox and when I peeked in, there was just this one envelope sitting inside. It looked different from the usual mail you get from the government, council, stuff like that, and so I very curiously picked it up. It had my address handwritten on it and there was a stamp on it from Singapore. Without even opening, I knew it was from one of my best friends, Sumika who lives there. As I excitedly tore into it, I found within a one-page, handwritten letter from her. It was an ordinary day, an ordinary moment, but you know, standing there under the warm, winter sun, holding it in my hand, just looking at it, with the filtered light from the trees dancing across the paper, everything had suddenly turned so special.
I feel like letters always make you feel a certain way. I don’t know if you guys ever had penpals as kids? I actually had a couple of them, and I remember years ago, I’d sit down at the dining table in my parents’ home, next to this window that had white, lace curtains, with a piece of paper and a pencil, and I’d just write away. It would be the most random things, and you’d get a response after almost a month, but it still remains as one of my most precious childhood memories.
Of course, life has become really busy and you can message people in several, quicker ways now, which is also perfectly okay. Expression of love should be easy and not bound by complication. But in the middle of all the text “I miss yous” or “Thank you, you’re amazing”, I do want to preserve a bit of the handwritten letter as well.
I think a letter within an envelope is not just words, it’s an experience, a feeling. Paper ages differently from digital text, touching an older letter is almost like time travel. I think one of the most beautiful things in life are words and when you pair them with the imperfection of raw handwriting, it’s like a feeling of love that you can touch.
So, I’ve actually been trying to find time to write them on and off; it honestly always takes just a few minutes. I’ve written a few for Nabeel the past year and I actually also gave one in person to Sumika when she was visiting me some months ago :)
And I think essentially, a really simple dream that I have is, for a couple of very special people in my life, to have a stack of those old-school, handwritten letters, bound together with maybe some ribbon or twine, and just resting in a box somewhere, all as a reminder of love from me.
2. An Easy + Fun DIY Link
Now switching gears completely: I follow this Australian interior designer on Instagram, Jono Fleming, and he has incredible style. In fact, his living room is one of my most favorite spaces on the internet.
Anyway, a few days ago he posted this DIY for a picture frame and it was so simple that I bookmarked it to maybe do it for our own home someday. You know, with DIY I feel like I’m a little impatient and mildly sloppy and so I really appreciate when a tutorial feels like I can do it without following all the “right” steps and still have it look alright. I think what he did was such a simple, affordable and fun upgrade that added lots of character, so I thought I’d share it with you guys too ☼
3. A Trip to the Library
So yesterday we did something very spontaneously. We randomly decided during lunchtime that “let’s go to the library!”. Getting back into reading has been one of the highlights of my year and the whole experience of going to a library and borrowing a book had been something I hadn’t done in a while.
And you know, walking in there, I had the most beautiful realisation: No matter how modern life gets, there are still some things that don’t change. Even with the automation and upgrades, the values of a library have remained the same. The quiet in the air, the gentle presence of books, the soft mumbling and whispers as people steal conversations under their breath, simple desks and chairs, the sound of turning pages; libraries remain loyal to their spirit.
And then just going through the shelves, finding the author you’re looking for, running your hands over the books to find the one you wanted, it was all so lovely. Anyway, I took out two mystery classics and then we grabbed a coffee before heading back home.
4. Gifts for a Coffee Loving Friend
I’m trying to find a gift these days for a friend to congratulate him for a new job. He loves coffee and I was thinking to get him something that a coffee lover would really appreciate. And also something that’s affordable as well? So, if you’re a coffee enthusiast and have suggestions for me, please feel free to send them over. I’ve already gifted him actual coffee before, and I was thinking to maybe do a hand press or a coffee grinder now? Message me if you have a reco ♥
5. Weekend Plans
And finally, the weekend is here. Saturday night, we’re going to watch a documentary at the cinema and then I want to spend the rest of the weekend pretty much doing a bunch of small chores at home, like washing our outdoor cushions, cleaning our vacuum, a few non-glamorous things like that. But honestly, I love taking care of our home and life, and I no longer find shame in procrastination, and so I think when you take those strange pressures away, I personally find a lot of peace in that kind of balanced labor. It feels rewarding, meditative and then paired with a podcast, some music, or sometimes just your thoughts, it can often turn out to be that perfect slow afternoon. I hope you have a lovely weekend ahead and if not, all my love to you, things do get better.
That’s pretty much it for our breakfast chat. I will see you soon.
If you enjoyed this post, it would be lovely if you could ‘like’ it by clicking the ♥ heart icon at the end of the post.
Because ‘A Slow Afternoon’ is a no-comment space by choice, to keep your reading free of instant reactions, this is one of the few ways I get public appreciation for my work. You can let me know your thoughts later by sending me a message at @shehzeen.r or drop me a note at thedesiwonderwoman@gmail.com.
Music Credit: The music in my voiceover background is ‘Milky’ by Ninn Tendo.