Feeling part of something is pretty darn lovely.

Something you believe in; something that helps your creativity flow; something that gives you purpose; something that makes you laugh so hard you wee your pants a little bit. With connection comes a heart-tingling sense of belonging in the world, and if you flip through this issue of frankie, you’ll find evidence of that in many forms, from a troupe of unconventional circus performers to a lounge-room exerciser and her online yoga instructor, early punks and hippies, and reindeer herders in Northern Siberia.

But here’s the good news: you can also find connection from the comfort of your couch – no acrobatic skills or radical lifestyle changes required. It could be as simple as going beyond small talk with a relative or new acquaintance – over on page 80 you’ll find some tear-out conversation starters that could help kick things off. We’re also encouraging every one of you to write a letter; to put pen to paper and communicate like we did before autocorrect and memes came along. Whether it’s writing to your nan who lives interstate or a brand new pen pal you’ve never met, we’ve popped some sweet notepaper and fold-your-own envelopes on page 48, so all you have to do is come up with a nice message. Easy as.

And if all else fails, remember this, lovely readers: you’ll always be a part of the frankie family.

Xx Sophie and the frankie team