Interview of Lia Candelario by Freya Bennett
What inspired you to start sharing your thoughts on sticky notes?
I write A LOT on my journals. I am currently on journal #24 – and I started about 12 years ago. I got the idea of writing thoughts on sticky notes when I was browsing through my old notebooks and found some pages with sticky notes with fleeting thoughts written on them. I figured that I could create a passion project around that, and decided to call my instagram account “felt this today” because it reminded me of how grounding it was to write something down, no matter how “unimportant” one thought can be. Looking back, I appreciate my past self for making those silly little notes!
How do you decide which feelings or moments are “sticky-note-worthy”?
For the notes I post, I usually set a schedule (weekly) to sift through my notebooks and find excerpts or lines that I feel like would resonate with a lot of people. Sometimes, I pick very personal ones too, just for the sake of having my feelings out in the open – a big fear I used to have: talking about my feelings. So it’s definitely a mix of the two!
When you write a note, do you start with a feeling, a memory, or a phrase?
I always start with a feeling. That has been the center of all my journal-writing, and will continue to be. Some months I am able to write daily, and some months I am only able to write 2-5 times. I don’t want to force what I’ll be putting out – as much as possible, I want everything on my journals & notes to be born out of emotion.
Some of your notes feel like little pep talks—are they meant for yourself first, or for anyone who reads them?
At first, they were really meant only for me (since they mostly come from journals that only I will be able to read) – but I realized, after rereading them, that they were meant for my future self and the people I want to share those thoughts with. Today, it feels a lot more like it’s meant for everyone who needs to hear it. <3 Like, if it finds you, and it resonates, then it’s also for you.
Have any of your notes resonated with people in ways that surprised you?
I started @feltthistoday earlier this year (April), and I did not expect my notes to reach a certain number of people – but throughout my passion project journey of sharing all kinds of notes: funny, vulnerable, lonely, powerful… I have also received lots of messages from followers and strangers! One particular day, I remember a bunch of people messaging me about their stories – that they resonated with being the eldest daughter and that they finally felt seen. I also have a lot of messages from fellow artists, saying that my notes have been affirming and that they’ve started creating again. It’s all very heartwarming. <3
How does knowing others see your notes affect the way you write them, if at all?
It doesn’t affect the way I write my notes at all! There are some days when I write notes on the spot – and before I post them, I try my best to make sure that I am coming from a place of peace/introspection so that all my notes are genuine!
If you could leave one sticky note for your younger self, what would it say?
Keep creating. Don’t let anybody discourage you from acting upon your silly, creative ideas. There will be people you haven’t met who will love what you have yet to show the world!
