Dear younger self,
You’re stronger than you know.
You might not think it now but all these battles and absence of support will prove excellent for two things. You will get stronger, braver and find out who truly believes in you.
Surviving suicide attempts will change you. Let it, for the better.
Life will not necessarily get easier.
But you will be more equipped.
Help those who are on our path but haven’t walked the length of it yet.
Your life matters. Every life matters.
Even if you cannot see it.
Even if the world feels cold, and you feel like you don’t belong, there is love. So much love. Even from people you don’t know. Accept it. Feel it. Be it. Let it change you.
Every day brings you a step closer to being the best you.
Embrace it.
You will get tired of being sick. That’s ok. Totally ok. Own it. Take time. Rest. And get back to work.
Pain coexists with joy. We cannot appreciate one without the other. Learn to be thankful for every moment, including those when you can laugh, dance and help a stranger.
Be kind. Even to those who are unkind to you. They probably need it more.
If your patience is running thin, don’t let anger win. Never. Think ‘love’, ‘love, “love, ‘love.’
Sing.
Meditate.
Look at the splendour of nature.
Befriend an animal.
I promise it helps.
Have I mentioned that your life matters. Do something with it. Make it count. You have been on the thresholds of death and life, you already know, life is precious, however hard, and disconcerting it may seem.
Don’t give up.
Accept your right to be. Your right to belong and your right to be safe You are right where you need to be. Now get up off your backside and fight for your life.
It is deeply intertwined with so many others you’ve yet to meet. We are but specs of dust in the wind, yet each of us, all of us, have a part to play. We matter.
Gentle hugs and love x
What would you say to your younger self?
Slider photo by Natalya Letunova
Cover photo by Ye Fung Tchen
Loved this, it was so poetic and beautifully put. Good reminders for us all! (Btw I couldn’t leave a comment via my mobile – some javascript error!)
Thanks so much hun. Oh no! I hate website techy probs. Will look into it. Thanks for laying me know x
Really enjoyed this! I especially liked “Be kind. Even to those who are unkind to you. They probably need it more.” That is so important and yet so difficult to do, but remaining angry at a past hurt, doesn’t make the pain any easier and actually only makes it worse.
I would probably say to my younger self, “stop worrying so much about what the future might possibly hold”. I would also say this is my present self too!
Thank you for this lovely post.
Thank you so much Kate. I agree, it is very hard to be kind to people are unkind. This is true compassion and the kind that will change the world. I love the advice you would give to yourself too. I often worry about the future and it does keep us from living in the now. Thanks so much for stopping by, hope to see you again x