In 2015, I wrote a book that I never published called How My Truth Became My Power. The book was a collection of open letters, all written to different aspects of myself (i.e. Dear Ms. Ambitious, Dear Ms. Brokenhearted etc.). I came across the last letter in the book the other day and I couldn’t believe how much it set the stage for The Unsealed, which was still several years away. As this week marks one year since I moved to Miami, I realized that sometimes we feel our dreams before we can visualize them. Here is the letter that concluded the book I wrote five years ago.
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Dear Woman,
“No Legacy is as rich as honesty” – William Shakespeare
When I started writing this letter, I did not know exactly why I was writing it. I did not create an outline, mapping out every topic I wanted to discuss or each experience I wanted to share. Rather, I just wrote.
It was almost a stream of consciousness, letting the words roll from my brain to my fingertips as I tapped and typed into emotions I did not know I felt and lessons I did not realize I learned. Through my writing, I exposed myself to myself, viewing a completely naked and raw version that I had not seen before. I discovered what’s beneath my everyday smile and what lies inside my heart.
Throughout the writing process, I pondered, “Who exactly am I writing this for? Is it for my future daughter? Is it for the women of the world? Or is it for the next generation as a whole?”
It was almost a stream of consciousness, letting the words roll from my brain to my fingertips as I tapped and typed into emotions I did not know I felt and lessons I did not realize I learned.
As I got closer and closer to finishing, I realized I did not write this for other people. I wrote this for myself, helping me to recognize the woman I am and the woman I want to continue to become.
In this body of work, the goal has not been to advocate for the choices I have made and the beliefs I have expressed, but rather to display the power I believe we as people possess over our own lives.
Through the people I have encountered and the experiences I have endured, I know I can find meaning in life from within myself. I am empowered by the knowledge that I have the strength to navigate my way and my joy in life, regardless of the obstacles that I face and the social pressures that exist. There are people that complicate my life and there are people that complement my life. Recognizing the difference is crucial.
I now know it is OK not to be perfect. It is OK to make mistakes, as long as I use them to make me better instead of tear me down.
During this writing process, I learned sometimes the reason we want to pursue a project, a goal, or anything for that matter is not nearly as important as our desire to do so. Ultimately, the reason will reveal itself.
As I write this last entry, I finally know precisely how I will change the world. I am going to live my life unafraid to pursue my purpose and find my happiness, by allowing my truth to help you discover yours.
With love and hope,
