This year I have written, and sent, 357 letters with little cranes in them. Some were birthday cards (when I was doing oh-so-well early in the year). Some were congratulatory and some were consolatory. Some were sad recollections of things that happened, or things that never happened.

357 of my little cranes have found themselves scattered across the world. The latest batch just left today, and I am overwhelmed by the thought of my words, the tiniest bits of my possible effort, touching so many. Strangers, friends, family. 16 Countries.

A friend of mine sent me a picture of a letter I don’t remember sending. The words hold a boldness that I’ve forgotten I used to have, but want so badly to get back.

Those words, written so long ago, remind me that I used to be a different person. Those words reminding me of the person I want to be. Those words that I wrote to help her, coming back around to help me.

I’ve always believed that I was putting good into the world with my letters, and had hoped that the good I was putting out would return to me one day, but that small and immediate circle is something I never could have imagined.

[box type=”shadow”]I’m folding and mailing 1000 paper cranes. If you want one, want to have one sent to someone else, or just haven’t heard about it yet, go read this.[/box]

First real wave left this morning. I am so excited. <3

The box looks so empty devoid of envelopes.

Only 917 left to send!

[box type=”shadow”]I’m folding and sending 1000 paper cranes. If you haven’t heard about it, go read this.[/box]

I’ve been folding-away at the first 100-pack of origami paper I picked up. I’ve taken to folding them all in stages (this is nearing the end of stage 3 for these guys):

I’ve been numbering them all as I go, because keeping count any other way was proving impossible.

and the first pack of paper is done!

Because I like my mail lady, I’ll be making a stop at the post office tomorrow for this batch. I’m so excited to get some of these out the door!