Anna Killick writes letters of encouragement and inspiration to others who ask for them. Photo/John Borren.
Anna Killick writes letters of encouragement and inspiration to others who ask for them. Photo/John Borren.
A Tauranga woman who has faced major health issues has started writing inspirational letters to others after being motivated by another woman who does the same thing.
Anna Killick sends out handwritten letters and cards to other women who reach out to her for words of encouragement and inspiration. Inone month, she sent 20 letters throughout New Zealand, Australia and the United States.
Mrs Killick said after battling mental illness and chronic fatigue syndrome for a large part of her life, her husband came across the One Million Lovely Letters website where Jodi Ann Bickley, who was also chronically ill, depressed and could only shuffle around her apartment, decided she was going to write letters of encouragement to others.
ENCOURAGING: Anna Killick has started to write inspirational letters to other women after being inspired by the website One Million Lovely Letters. PHOTO/JOHN BORREN
"She simply asked people to send their addresses to her email and she would send them a beautiful hand-written note or card. I absolutely loved the idea. I know in my darkest moments a phone call, a meal, a card of encouragement, the kindness of a stranger or the love of friends makes the world of difference."
Mrs Killick said she had been blessed over the last four years by the people of St Luke's in Tauranga.
"Even though I couldn't attend most mornings, I was included and made to feel part of such a loving community even though I was barely present. I had meals cooked for me, had offers of cleaning, was given gifts and cards and this community became my friends. I was an equal, not an inferior - I was valuable."
So when her husband showed her the site, she knew it was her chance to give back to others.
"I wanted women everywhere to know they were loved and adored, that they were valuable, that they mattered.
"When I sent out a call on my Facebook page people started to email and ask for a letter. Some would only say one word, like encouragement, while others would just ask for a letter."
Mrs Killick said she aimed to reply to letter requests within a month and each letter would be personalised and decorated differently.
"Without being too spiritual about it, I pray for what encouragement to write and keep it simple and loving. I have received wonderful feedback.
"People tell me that they carry their letters around with them and read them when they need some love. That blows me away.
"If I can do just the tiniest thing to help bring a ray of sunshine into someone's day then that is wonderful."
