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During the COVID pandemic, a postbox was created in Warrington, England, to help those grieving loved ones.
The idea was to write a message to those who'd passed away and post it in the "postbox to heaven." People were invited to use biodegradable wildflower seed paper so that the letters could later be planted in the beautiful formal gardens at Walton Hall in Warrington.
As a spokesman for the hall shared with the BBC, the setting allowed people "to come and reflect and remember their loved ones."
Councilor Tony Higgins also pointed out that the initiative was particularly important at the time of the pandemic when people weren't always able to come and say farewell to those they lost. And now, over a year later, the postbox has received over 2,000 letters.
While the councilor expressed that he was delighted that the gardens will be able to thrive with the wildflowers that will grow, he also pointed out the benefits for those who are grieving: "I'm so pleased that there is now a tranquil setting where they are able to visit to reflect on special memories."
While it may seem odd to put pen to paper to express your feelings to a deceased loved one, it's actually a wonderful way to share your innermost thoughts, and that can be a wonderful part of the healing process.
And of course, as grief has no time limit, there's nothing stopping anybody from putting pen to paper at any time to share their thoughts or pain on losing someone they've loved. While you may not have your own "postbox to heaven," it would be easy to set one up at home where you could place your own letters -- and if you have some biodegradable seed paper, you could also watch nature thrive from your grief as you bury your letters.
