Kia ora koutou (hello all),

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I got COVID

With the wisdom of hindsight, crying at the kitchen table was probably the first sign I had COVID . I was reading my husband this quote from the NZ Geographic article on saving gullies,

“If you think about the environment as this global problem then you can’t do anything. But if you go really small, then change does become possible,”

- Diana Aquilina at home in Huntington

Thanks for reading Dr Kerry's Love Letters: words for the weary! This post is public so feel free to share it.

I went quiet and small

I felt such exhaustion and relief and hope reading this. I felt grateful for the long life line it threw me. GO REALLY SMALL.

Some ways I went small this week:

• I cleared my calendar for a week to get well.

• I asked for help from friends and colleagues when (and before) I needed it.

• I let go of ambitious ideals and made small commitments:

  • Today I will support this person simply with full presence.

  • I will let this meditation flow over me. I won’t be picky or perfect about how I learn it or apply it.

  • I will let go of my ideals of giving friends homemade meals, and simply buy them a store bought frozen dinner.

  • I don’t know if I’ll be healthy enough to attend myself, but I’ll spread the word: Esteemed Wellington local author Michelle Duff will be speaking at the perfect teeny Petone bookshop Schrodingers on 18 Sept - you should go!

Question for you: How do you go small?

What are some ways you have found to be generous, patient, and kind with yourself and others?

How do you combat the overwhelm and instead enact small change in your world?

Please simply reply to this email - let’s spread the love and wisdom and inspire each other.

Your answers from the last newsletter

As you may remember, My new book, Start Here: A Practical Guide for the Overwhelmed, will be released in late November in Australia, the UK, and New Zealand. Last time I explained that I wanted to promote pre-orders in a way that feels generous and valuable—where readers gain more than they give.

I asked what pre-order gifts felt interesting.

Youe feedback was overwhelmingly in support of offering a free supplementary workbook—for example, Start Here for Parents or Start Here for Helpers.

So get excited, that will be coming our way soon!

2026 “Start Here for Parents”: fundraising for schools and community groups

SPEAKING OF, as you know, I’m always looking for pro bono speaking opportunities.

In 2026, I think it’d be fun to partner with schools and community groups to offer free talks like Start here for Parents (with a bonus start here for school age kids handout).

I’m thinking I offer to speak for free and then the group could ask for a koha or could charge for tickets. What do you think?

Feel free to reply to this email with your thoughts and definitely any groups or schools that you think might be keen.

Finally, cake

And ending with a little joy savouring. I made two cakes this month for two of my favourite people, a birthday cake for my best friend and a chocolate cake for my husband.

Wishing I could give you each a piece of cake to fuel your own work. Here’s to hard work. Here’s to love and hope and walking toward peace and justice each day.

Aroha (love), Kerry