The Little Pep Talk Library

In early March 2025, weary from the weight of the world and impatiently waiting for spring, I created a Little Free Pep Talk Library ion front of my house. I wasn’t sure what would happen to it, or if anyone would use it — but the idea was that people could come and write a note for a stranger, offering encouragement, and leave with a note from a different stranger, giving them a pep talk back.

I was surprised how quickly this took off and how many kind, joyful, encouraging notes began to fill our “take one” box. In 2026, the pep talk box was shared with the Worldwide Sidewalk Joy Project community.

From here, an idea began — what if the project became bigger than just those in the neighborhood? What if people could exchange pep talks with anyone, anywhere?

We’ve set up a PO Box so people can send in their own pep talks, both for the box, and to receive one in the mail!

Here’s how it works:

1) send a handwritten pep talk to our PO Box

2) if you’d like to receive one back, please include a separate note in the envelope indicating as such and be sure to include your return address

3) if you do not include a return address or state you do not want one mailed back, your pep talk will go in the seattle box!

Caroline Catlin
PO Box 46063
Seattle, WA
98146