What was it about the project made you want to write?

I thought the idea was fascinating. I could write a few more, just because it is a concept that I think everyone has dealt with. Different situations where you could have, would have, but didn’t. The letter that I did write was the most important one for me, though. Still, there are all kinds of episodes from my life where I should have said something, but for whatever reason I didn’t.

How did you feel after writing the letter?

The letter was a verbal presentation of things I say to myself and this person everyday. I wrote to someone who was deceased, but I believe that the dead can still hear us and in some instances we can hear them if we listen. So really, in the letter I wrote things that I say to my sister a lot, but writing it down and letting others read it was something that was very cleansing for me. Something in the dark that Jackie let me bring to light. It was an amazing feeling.

Why do you feel an activity like this is important for people to do?

The written word holds such tremendous power, always. I think it is important for people to let go of things that are kept hidden. To bring something to light is to take away its power to destroy us. Something unspoken can be a big burden for people and this lets us take back control over the situation.

If others are currently thinking about whether or not they should write a letter for the project, what would you tell them?

I would tell them to do it. We all have such rich and fascinating lives and there are times when something happens in your life and you feel like you are all alone with it, but if you could find a letter that spoke to you or that you can relate to, it has the power to make us feel closer to each other; to share our humanities, both good and bad.