Kindred Spirit Mailbox

Written By Deb McGrath

Other Peoples Chairs

What is a chair? A Place to sit, kick your shoes off or rest maybe? I have taken photos over the years of chairs in the wild, benches at the beach, Adirondacks in someone’s yard and a few inside. Chairs are relaxing to me. Even the broken ones.

This book is a photo collection with quotes from friends, stories from my life and inspiration.

Kindred Spirit Mailbox

Sunset Beach, North Carolina

The sky was brilliantly blue, the sand soft beneath our feet. What lingers most in my memory is the profound stillness of that moment.

I sat with DeeDee on a simple wooden bench, the Kindred Spirit mailbox standing sentinel beside us. Inside, notebooks overflowed with the handwritten hearts of strangers, pages of grief, gratitude, love, and confession. Proof that words matter.

I wrote a letter that day.

I wrote about a memory I had been carrying for a long time. I didn’t overthink it. I didn’t polish it. I just let the truth spill onto the page. There is something sacred about writing things down. The written word forces you to slow down and sit with what is real. Once it’s on paper, you can see it clearly, and sometimes, you can finally let it go.

When I closed the notebook, I put it back in the mailbox and lifted the red flag.

That simple act felt powerful. It meant I was ready for someone else to read my words. A stranger. Someone climbing that dune on their own journey, who might open the box and find my letter waiting there. Anonymous, but witnessed. Private, yet shared.

There is power in being read.

There is power in trusting that your words might meet someone exactly where they are.

That day, I didn’t just leave a letter behind.. . .I left a piece of a memory and walked away lighter.

Sometimes healing looks like lifting a red flag and walking away.

Deb McGrath

Debbie McGrath has spent much of her life sitting in “other people’s chairs”—in boardrooms, at leadership tables, and in the quiet, defining moments where she was called to rise, support, or simply endure. A three-time cancer survivor, Debbie understands firsthand what it means to navigate both the visible and invisible challenges life places before us. Each chapter of her journey has shaped her into a resilient, compassionate, and purpose-driven leader who doesn’t just occupy space—she transforms it.

A dedicated and influential force within the Southeastern Connecticut Women’s Network, Debbie previously served as President and is preparing to step into the role once again. Her leadership is marked by action, intention, and a deep commitment to elevating others. Known for bringing diverse voices to the table and creating meaningful opportunities for connection, she has built a reputation not just as a leader, but as someone who makes things happen—someone who ensures there is always a seat available, even if she has to build the table herself.

Grounded by the unwavering support of those closest to her and strengthened by the trials she has faced, Debbie has learned to move through life with equal parts grit and grace. Her experiences have given her a profound understanding of identity, belonging, and the courage it takes to claim your place in the world. Other People’s Chairs is a reflection of that journey—an honest, thought-provoking exploration of the roles we step into, the spaces we inherit, and the ones we ultimately choose for ourselves. Debbie invites readers to reflect on how we show up in life, and what it truly means to claim our own chair unapologetically while offering grace and understanding to those sitting in theirs.

Debbie Currently lives in Waterford, Connecticut with her loving husband Casey.

https://www.otherpeopleschairs.com
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