I started this writing project, The Lee Letters, in June of 2026 after a couple friends told me they’d like to read my writing. (It took me a while to realize that I’m actually an interesting person. Other people had to tell me that I was and encourage me to share my stories.)
For context, I’ve been a writer my whole life. Journaling as a kid, a writing degree in college, and then professional writing all throughout my career (blogs, websites, proposals, etc.). I love wordplay and finding the exact right word to explain something. I even wrote and published a professional book in November of 2026. My business writing has earned me a following on LinkedIn.
But I haven’t really done any personal writing in the past 20 years, unless you count a shedload of texts to family and friends. Long-form personal writing is a lot harder, a lot more raw. But at this stage in my life, it felt right (even important) for me to write and publish personal stories.
Once I decided to write this letter, the ideas came in a deluge and writing started to flow easily.
And now 60 of you are reading my work.
I have been surprised by how many of you reply to these letters. Apparently, I’m writing about things many of you experience or feel. Maybe you feel seen by what I write, or less alone. I didn't see it coming, but now I feel a sense of connectedness and community here.
It originally felt like something I wanted to do for myself, but it turns out I’m doing it for all of you too.
And now that I am finding ways to create to express myself and connect with others, I see all the ways that others are doing the same thing.
- I have a friend who paints these amazing, thick, chunky, colorful paintings. She's promised to send me one and I can't wait.
- I have several friends who love to cook and put beautiful food in front of people.
- Another (a man!) who bakes beautiful desserts for people.
- One who creates and shares fantastic playlists for any major event. (She also puts together lovely and silly gift baskets for girl’s weekends which we all look forward to.)
- Yet another who gardens, creating beauty by planting flowers and then bringing them into the house to put in vases.
- Then, an acquaintance who has created dozens of quilts.
- And yet another who makes jewelry and gives it as gifts.
I love all of it. Each brings me joy to see and receive.
I am now learning to look more closely at these things and view them like precious acts of creation, expression, and connection—acts of being seen.
Many of us create to connect, we just don’t recognize that that’s what we’re doing.
At the same time, I also think many people DON'T share what they create. Doing that requires safe spaces, and as we all know not all spaces are safe.
At times I have not felt understood or seen in my most important spaces— family, work, friend groups—which has made me feel alone, misunderstood, invisible, and unsupported.
I have the feeling this is universal. Each of us wants deeply to belong, but in the crowded and noisy spaces of our lives it’s hard to share freely of ourselves in a way that others can fully see it.
It’s so much easier to be superficial. I can easily retreat into safe, comfortable, or impersonal topics so no one will judge me or think less of me, especially in a group setting. I have also overshared at times and learned quickly what do say and not say in the company of certain people. (Again, I suspect this is universal.)
It turn out writing is my safe space. For me, it’s easier to share in writing because I don’t see faces when someone reads my work. Still, sometimes I pause before I hit send, because you might think it's too much. Cringy.
It goes like this: create, share, connect, be seen, belong. But it all takes courage.
I have found surprising meaning in sharing my writing and in how it's helped me both feel seen and more connected to all of you. The discomfort of sending is always outweighed by the benefits of having done it.
This—creating and sharing—seems especially important in midlife as many of are redefining who are are after the kids leave the nest, our bodies are changing, our careers are wrapping up, and our partnerships are shifting into the next phase.
I encourage each of you to think about what it is that you love to create and maybe how you can share it with others. So what is it? Desserts, homemade cards, playlists, the gorgeous checklists you make to manage your life (yes, that counts)?
Every time you put something you made in front of another person, you hand them a piece of who you are, and—this is the most important part—you give them permission to do the same.
And when someone shares something they created with you, really look. Ask about it. Tell them what it means to you. In receiving and holding the creations of others with care, YOU will become the safe space.
And I think that's a huge thing to do for each other. You all have done it for me.
If you want to read all my posts, the archive is here.
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