Come and sit under the pink tree.
Hi, I’m Emily Linder. I write Under the Pink Tree. You could say this all started the day my little sister Christina was born. You can read the full story here, but I’ll happily give you a brief recap. This newsletter is for my girls—the three sisters I grew up with, and anyone else who loves a sweet sisterhood.
I write about how beautiful life is, especially with the gospel of Jesus Christ. I start by thinking of my three little sisters and what I think could help them find joy. Such as…
What would I want them to know about finding a sense of purpose after college?
How would I want them to feel about the Latter-day Saint temple endowment?
What is my very best advice after their first break-up?
Why Under the Pink Tree?
In our front yard we had this tree that would burst into impossibly pink blossom balls once a year. One summer day, Ellie (my youngest sister and I) and I lay under that wonderfully pink tree and stared up at its glory. In this all too inspirational, dreamy setting we couldn’t help but get a bit philosophical (and giggly). Ellie asked me what courage is. I asked her what love is. And so on. It was warm, happy, often sprinkled with laughter, and a lovely experience. We decided we would call our chat ‘Pink Philosophical Thoughts,” and made plans to return the next day.
I kind of always want to be laying in the grass with Ellie discussing what makes life meaningful while staring up at tree doused in pink petals. With this newsletter, its like I can be. And even better, you all can come and lay in the grass with us (Symbolically, of course. But if you are in the neighborhood feel free to come over.)
I will write a weekly(ish) post that you can read from where you feel comfy and philosophical. (And it will be even more fun if you wear pink.)
What a few lovely readers have said about Under the Pink Tree:
“Girl, I don’t know how you do it, but every one of your weekly articles highlights some lesson I’ve been learning or some struggle I’ve been having! I am so grateful for you, and that I get to experience your influence even though we live so far apart.” —Miriam
“Hey Emily! I just wanted to reach out and let you know I really have appreciated the emails you have sent through your newsletter, especially the ones talking about breakups. I recently went through a breakup and it has been really hard. Reading your emails helped me to feel understood and supported! Thank you for sharing your thoughts, it means a lot to me!” —Tabitha
A Little about Me…
I am Emily Linder. I have an English degree in technical communication and rhetoric from Utah State University. I am the managing editor for LDS Living where I write, edit, and plan a bimonthly print magazine and a daily website. (You can check out my stuff here). Before starting full-time at LDS Living, I interned with the Liahona magazine.
In my job, I do a lot of kinds of writing, but I’ve realized that my favorite thing to write about is life as a young Latter-day Saint.
One of my greatest writing inspirations is Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. I once read a book all about the significance of that beautiful novel. Somewhere about halfway through that book, there was a sentence that made me stop and gasp for my husband to come over to me so I could read it to him. My goal in life isn’t to become the next Louisa May Alcott, but I do hope my newsletter can offer what Little Women did to the world as explained in this sentence:
“As a book that celebrated the events in young girls’ lives and made them as interesting as any adventures on the high seas, Little Women … gave girls the idea that their lives were worth writing about.”
Our lives following Jesus are worth writing about.
So come sit under the pink tree with me and remember that you are not alone, you are really cool, and you are really worth it.
