In early March 2025, weary from the weight of the world and impatiently waiting for spring, I created a Little Free Pep Talk Library in 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 - and then in the Washington Post, NPR’s Here and Now, and CBS Mornings!

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?

With that hope in mind, I’ve set up a PO Box so people can send in their own pep talks, both for the box, and to receive in the mail.