What Kinds of Messages Can I Create?

Anything you want! Some people sit down knowing exactly what they want to say, like a letter to a child on their wedding day, or last-minute instructions for a trusted friend. Others aren't sure where to begin and need some prompting.

Below are the eight message types available in Paige, along with some ideas to help you think about what you might want to share and with whom.

Messages can be sent right away, scheduled for a future date, triggered by a delegate, or delivered after your passing. You get to decide. This article focuses on what to write — not the logistics of sending. Those details are covered in a separate guide.

The Eight Message Types
Not Sure Where to Start?

The Eight Message Types

Milestones and Celebrations

Some of the most meaningful words are the ones that mark a moment. A message in this category might feel like:

A note to your child or grandchild to be opened on their graduation day
Words of congratulations for a wedding, a new job, or a new baby
A birthday message timed for a milestone year — their 18th, 30th, or 50th
A "just because" note that celebrates who someone has grown into

You don't have to be gone for these messages to matter. Scheduling a heartfelt note for a future celebration can be one of the most personal gifts you ever give.

Memories and Stories

Think of this as your chance to pass something forward that no one else can, the version of events only you remember.

The story of how you met your partner
What your childhood home looked, smelled, or felt like
A funny memory about a family tradition that could easily be forgotten
Something you witnessed or lived through that you want others to know about

These messages can be viewed as a gift of context that helps the people you love understand where they come from.

I Wish You Knew

Sometimes there are things we mean to say but never quite find the right moment. This category is a space for those.

Something you've always admired about someone but rarely said out loud
A truth about your own life you want to share before it's too late
A perspective on your choices — the ones you're proud of, and the ones you'd do differently
Something that felt too vulnerable to say in person, whether it’s a confession or a message of appreciation

"I Wish You Knew" messages tend to be deeply personal. There's no formula for them, just write what feels true.

Advice and Motivation

If you've learned something worth passing on, this is where it lives.

Lessons about money, relationships, career, or health that you wish someone had told you
Encouragement to someone who may be going through a hard time someday, even if you can't know when
Your philosophy on resilience, faith, or what matters most in life
A message to someone younger about the kind of person you believe they can become

Think of this less as instruction and more as a conversation you're starting across time.

Apologies and Forgiveness

This one takes courage, but many people find it to be among the most freeing messages to write.

An apology for something that's weighed on you, even if it was never fully resolved
Forgiveness extended to someone who may not even know they hurt you
A message that releases a long-held tension between you and another person
Words that say: I don't want this to follow you after I'm gone

You don't have to send this message immediately, or at all if you're not ready. You can save it, sit with it, and decide later whether and when to share it.

Appreciation and Love

Simple. Profound. Possibly the easiest and most important category to start with.

Telling someone exactly why they matter to you
Describing what it has meant to watch someone grow up, succeed, or overcome something hard
A message that says, without any occasion or reason: I love you, and here's why
Something specific — a memory, a quality, a moment — that captures how you really feel

A best practice is to write one of these for each person closest to you. Not because something is wrong, but because words like these are worth having.

Final Wishes and Instructions

Practical, but no less meaningful. This category can ease a tremendous burden on the people you leave behind.

Preferences for your funeral, memorial, or celebration of life
Notes about specific belongings and who you'd like to have them
Instructions for pets, properties, or responsibilities that will need to be transferred
Anything you want handled in a particular way that isn't covered in your legal documents

A best practice is to treat this message as a companion to — not a replacement for — your legal will. Messages in Paige are personal communications; your will is the legal document that governs your estate. If you haven't started your will yet, it's worth doing both. You can also add and store wishes in your documents tool.

Other

Not everything fits neatly into a category, and that's okay. The Other option is there for anything that doesn't quite fit elsewhere — a voice memo transcribed into text, a poem, a list, a recipe with a story behind it, or something entirely your own.

Not Sure Where to Start?

That's more common than you might think. A good first step can be asking yourself: Is there someone in my life who has never heard me say exactly what they mean to me?

Start there. Everything else can follow.

You can save a message as a draft at any time and come back to it. Nothing has to be finished in one sitting.