#4 - Things I Wish I Knew-sletter

It’s been a big week and one where the Wednesday Waffle has (again) been thrust into the spotlight, with the renowned Australian suicide prevention charity, RUOK, giving it a shout out, along with many other prominent social media accounts.

The number of comments and messages I’ve received has been overwhelming. Thousands of people have expressed how much this quick and easy weekly practise has helped them connect / re-connect with their friends and family, with many highlighting the positive impact a “waffle” has had on their overall mental health. It feels grandiose to say, but the concept is genuinely changing lives.

With over a million-plus combined likes and shares on TikTok and Instagram, what I’ve learned is that people clearly desire connection and this is a fun new way to do that.

I feel like we’re only scratching the surface of what the Wednesday Waffle could be. It’s simple and succinct, has resonated so superbly and been shared with such virality. It has a unique ability to help people connect with friends and check in often. But to me, the beauty of this idea is its power to make people feel heard and be seen. The positive impact this has on mental health and fighting loneliness could save lives.

I want to take this opportunity in both hands.

If you’re a charity or not for profit raising awareness and valuable funds for improving mental health, fostering connection, fighting loneliness, and preventing suicide – please reach out to me at [email protected]

✉️ The 1960s Group Chat

The best part about reading through all the comments has been hearing what other people do to stay connected, past and present. One such message introduced me to something from a simpler time that I think is best described as the OG group chat.

Way before the internet, and when long distance phone calls were impossible, or unaffordable, a collection of friends would participate in a “Round Robin”. No, not a tennis competition where everyone battled one another in their lily whites, this version was designed to keep friends and families in touch, when communicating was far more difficult.

How it worked was Friend One would post a letter to Friend Two, updating them on all that’s been happening and what’s coming up (very waffle-esque).

Friend Two would receive this letter in the mail and immediately be brought up to speed on the life of Friend One.

From here, Friend Two writes about what’s been happening in their world, adds it to the back of Friend One’s letter, and sends it off to Friend Three. And so it goes around until the final person returns it to Friend One, thus closing out the Round Robin.

It made me think about just how special those updates would’ve been, after months passing without any correspondence from your nearest and dearest. Imagine the dopamine hit when receiving a hefty Round Robin in the post. Forget about a few likes on your latest reel, that RR rush must’ve been addictive. I wish I knew that feeling.

So, I’m thinking I’d like to kick it old-school and participate in a Round Robin. One that spreads far and wide around the world.

If you’d like to be involved, please email me at [email protected] and tell me a bit about yourself and where you hail from.

I’m thinking five or six people is a good number, so if you’d like to be considered, please sing out. Once we’ve got our crack squad together, I’ll update those involved with more info.

Until next time, keep waffling :)

ZP / NpG