Christine usually shows up in my inbox on Thursdays.
She replies to each Better Letter, and I genuinely appreciate every message I get back. Hers are usually thoughtful and warm. So when her name appeared in my inbox this past Monday, it felt out of context.
This past Monday came right after the antisemitic attack in Australia. A lot of Jewish hearts were heavy- including mine. I opened her email immediately.
Christine Rizzuto (second from the right) and I, earlier this year
But this email wasn’t her usual Thursday note.
Christine isn’t Jewish. What happened didn’t happen to her. But she knew it might land differently for me. So she sent a note. No agenda. No request. A thoughtful message that said- I’m thinking of you.
My whole day shifted after reading her email. I felt a warmth inside that stayed with me for hours- not because she fixed anything, but because she saw me.
Most people stay in their own lane when something hard happens to someone else. Christine didn’t.
It takes 60 seconds to send a note. The impact can last all day. Sometimes that’s all someone needs- a little proof that they’re not carrying it all alone.
When something happens to a community, reach out to a person. That's how care becomes real.
Before you go back to your day, send a note to someone who’s struggling.
A text. An email. Two sentences. Just enough to say- I’m thinking of you.
