The first time I heard about Slowly was completely by accident. I came across a thread where people were sharing their favorite apps, and someone mentioned it. I decided to download it without really knowing what it was or how it worked.
At first, it felt a little strange. I barely received any letters, and most of the ones I sent never got a reply. I honestly thought it wasn’t worth the time. But something told me to give it one more chance.
That’s when I started talking to people from completely different backgrounds, cultures, and personalities. It quickly became fascinating. I also got hooked on collecting stamps because they add another layer of meaning to every letter I send. (I really hope I’ll get the chance to design a few someday and suggest them to the Slowly team. I absolutely love the idea of a stamp pack created by the Slowly community.)
Around that time, I formed a special connection with someone from Hungary. It genuinely felt like we were meant to exchange letters. We were almost reflections of each other, and every letter brought new thoughts, emotions, and perspectives. That was the moment I truly understood the power of this platform and the kinds of experiences it can quietly bring into your life.
Then, purely out of curiosity, I replied to a pen pal from Zimbabwe. He turned out to be the most spontaneous and wonderful pen pal I could have hoped for, and someone I’d love to stay in touch with for a very long time.
He makes me believe in humanity, empathy, and kindness. I haven’t really had the chance to meet many “sunshine people” in real life, so this became something entirely new and deeply meaningful to me. I truly cherish this connection. To me, we’re like a duo made of the moon and the sun.
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{ . .} {. . }
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What I love most is that Slowly gives you the opportunity to meet people you would almost certainly never cross paths with in your everyday life. People who inspire you and remind you that there are countless different ways to think, feel, live, and connect with others. That’s the real strength of this community. Its ability to broaden perspectives and inspire one another along a journey that, if we’re honest, can sometimes feel quite exhausting.
I’m convinced that if my kind of people are not in my own country, then they’re somewhere out there, quietly hidden on this seemingly small planet that somehow still feels so vast and full of unknown.
With gratitude,
V.
