Most of what gets hard in the second half comes down to one sentence. The one you need to say and can’t find, or the one someone said to you that you still don’t know how to answer.
Send me yours.
What to send
A few lines are enough.
- Who the conversation is with: a spouse, an adult child, a parent, a boss or colleague, a sibling, a friend.
- What happened, or what you are dreading.
- The exact words, if you have them. His, hers, theirs, or the ones you rehearsed and never said. Don’t tidy them up.
- What you have already tried, if anything.
What happens to your letter
I read every letter that comes in. I can’t promise a private reply to each one.
Some letters become a post on this site called Dear Ian, answered in public. That only happens if you tick the box on the form that says so. When I answer a letter here, I change names, shift ages by a few years, move places, and quote only a short part of what you wrote. Your email address is never published or shared.
What this isn’t
This is not personalized financial, legal or medical advice. For decisions about your own money, your contract or your health, please also talk to a qualified professional who knows your circumstances.
If a conversation at home involves threats, control or fear, please don’t wait for a letter. In the US, the National Domestic Violence Hotline answers at 1-800-799-7233, or text START to 88788 (thehotline.org). Elsewhere, contact your local emergency services.
Your letter is stored privately on this site and sent to my inbox. It is not added to any mailing list. To have it deleted, write to desk@freeboundlife.com. More in the Privacy Policy.