I planned to blog about letter writing this week.  I wanted to share some of the techniques I use to lift myself out of an emotional depression.  Letter writing is a valuable alternative healing technique when I need a little relationship therapy or anger therapy and it is still two weeks before my next appointment with my therapist. 

And then today a completely unexpected event happened.  It compelled me to return to my trusted old friend for dealing with grief and find some emotional healing. 

What was this overwhelming event that caused me to invoke my powers of self-help and natural healing?  Well, I’m finding it hard to tell you because you are going to find it silly but, The Toddler’s lizard died today. 

Victoria was a beautiful Leopard Gecko.  She was lavender with muted black spots.  She had a marvelous personality and The Toddler called her lovingly “Bicktoria.”  The Gecko on the insurance company commercial would certainly have fallen madly in love with our beauty, as you can see from her picture.

Bicktoria came to us before The Toddler was born.  She belonged to the son of a friend.  The boy was going to college, and we joked, he couldn’t have girls in his room at school, so she came to live with us.  Bicktoria was The Toddler’s first pet.

I think since I was going to blog about letter writing anyway, it would be a perfect time to demonstrate how to write homage to Victoria in 3 easy steps.

1.  Create a peaceful environment.

When I turn to my letter writing as a means of emotional healing, I find that usually I am struggling with overwhelming physical agitation and my mind is swirling with thoughts and emotions.  Before I can get started putting my thoughts on paper, I need quiet.  I often take a bubble bath to help me relax.  When I step out of my healing waters, I put on some soothing music.  By then, I am relaxed and ready to write.

2.  Begin with simple, expressive phrases.

Begin with simple phrases to express your feelings in the most basic and organic way.  Use phrases like I feel, I want, I wish, I need, I believe…to help you get started.  Don’t worry about form or content for now.  Write your letter as if you are making a list.

3.  Leave Your Anger, Resentments and Grief on the Page.

Letter writing is a form of self-help.  Letter writing is a natural healing mechanism with the purpose of propelling our spiritual growth.  It is cheaper than divorce counseling and more effective than anti-depressants.  Write what you are feeling.  Write it with honesty and gusto.  And, when you are finished writing, leave your anger, resentments and grief, exactly where they lay – on the page.  That’s the point…we write the letter to express our feelings – to get them out so we don’t have to carry that baggage around with us. 

With these 3 Easy Steps you can begin your own emotional healing through letter writing.  Now, I would like to pay homage to our departed Victoria with a short letter for coping with grief of my own.

My Dearest Victoria…

Thank you for uniting me and my husband even when we were falling apart.

I feel sad that you died today.

I feel sad that I had to find you.

I feel afraid to tell The Toddler you are dead.

I will miss seeing you each day.

I will miss hearing The Toddler call you Bicktoria.

I feel glad that we had you with us for a short while.

Thank you for being a part of our family.

Thank you for bringing us pleasure.

Thank you for making us happy.

I believe we will see you in Heaven.