We are more connected than ever—yet somehow, we’ve never felt more alone.
We wake up to notifications. We check emails before getting out of bed. We send quick texts, react to posts, and scroll through updates. We know where our friends are vacationing, what they had for dinner, and what show they’re binge-watching. But when was the last time we had a real conversation—one that made us feel seen, valued, and truly understood?
For many of us, connection has become convenient but hollow.
We mistake staying “in touch” for staying close. We assume that because we can reach anyone at any time, we’re building relationships. But the truth is, something is missing. And we can feel it.
Amy Weinland Daughters felt it too.
In a world where a text message takes seconds, she made a different choice—she wrote 580 handwritten letters. One to every single one of her Facebook friends. No shortcuts. No copy-pasting. Just ink on paper, written with intention.
And what she discovered changed everything.
The Power of a Handwritten Letter
Think about the last time you received a handwritten note. Not a bill, not junk mail, but a letter—written just for you.
You hold it in your hands. You notice the weight of the paper, the way the ink settles into the fibers. Maybe the handwriting is neat, maybe it’s a little messy. But it’s personal. It’s real. Someone took the time to sit down, think of you, and put their thoughts onto paper.
Now, compare that to a text message. Which one makes you feel something?
Amy’s experiment wasn’t just about nostalgia. It was about intention. It was about seeing what happens when we slow down and make an effort to reach people in a way that can’t be minimized to a notification.
The results? People responded with tears, laughter, vulnerability, and reconnection. Some shared things they hadn’t told anyone in years. Others wrote back, moved by the simple act of being thought of.
Because at the heart of all of this, we’re not just craving connection—we’re craving evidence that we matter.
Is Social Media Helping or Hurting Us?
We convince ourselves that we’re staying connected because we interact online. And to some extent, that’s true. Social media allows us to reconnect with childhood friends, share our big moments, and keep up with family who live far away.
But here’s what it doesn’t do:
It doesn’t create depth.
It doesn’t force us to pause and reflect before we speak.
It doesn’t make us feel held, heard, or deeply understood.
A “like” is not the same as a conversation. A comment is not the same as presence.
When Amy started writing letters, she wasn’t just reconnecting with people—she was reminding them of something they had forgotten: The best relationships don’t happen in a feed. They happen in real moments, with real effort.
Relearning the Art of Connection
Connection isn’t complicated, but it does require something we’ve stopped practicing: effort.
If you’re feeling disconnected, lonely, or like your relationships are stuck at the surface, here’s where to start:
Write One Letter. Not 580. Just one. Think of someone who has impacted your life and tell them why.
Pick Up the Phone. Not a text. A call. Let someone hear your voice.
Be Fully Present. The next time you’re with someone, put your phone away. Listen—really listen.
Make Time for Meaning. Instead of scrolling through updates, send a personal message to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while.
Embrace the Slow. Connection isn’t meant to be instant. Let’s stop treating it like another task to check off.
Small efforts create deep impact. A letter. A conversation. A moment of undivided attention. These are the things that build relationships—the ones that last, the ones that heal, the ones that remind us who we are.
Listen to Amy’s Story
On this week’s episode of My Sexy Menopause Body, I sit down with Amy Weinland Daughters to talk about what she learned from writing 580 letters, why we’re more disconnected than ever, and how we can reclaim real relationships in our everyday lives.
This episode will challenge you. It will wake you up. And most of all, it will remind you that real connection isn’t lost—we just have to make the choice to find it again.
Because at the end of the day, the best relationships aren’t the ones that happen automatically. They’re the ones we choose to build.
Get in touch with Amy:
Website: https://www.amydaughters.com/
Books by Amy: https://www.amydaughters.com/books
