Dear Younger Me,

Hey. I see you sitting there, feeling like you don’t quite belong, like maybe you’re invisible. I know you’re searching for something to make the ache disappear, to quiet that inner storm. You’re drawn to the energy around you, the music, the lights, and the pulse. You’ll think that losing yourself is the answer. But listen carefully—one day, you’ll realize it was never about escape.

Hold onto this: there’s no room for hate on the dance floor. There’s no space for fear, for shame, or for the emptiness you feel right now. Those places, the nights under neon lights, aren’t meant for hiding. They’re places of freedom, connection, and belonging. And one day, you’ll find your place in that world—not as someone fading into the shadows, but as someone standing proud, your spirit unbroken.

You’re going to face challenges that feel like they might crush you. There will be choices that lead to dark roads, where you’ll struggle with loss, pain, and addiction. You’ll spend years trying to fill a void with anything that might silence the hurt. But here’s what I want you to know: none of that will ever define you. Even when it feels impossible, you are stronger than you can see right now.

You’re going to step into spaces where hate, pain, and judgment have no power. You’ll return to the music and the lights, and this time it’ll be different. You’ll make your way to the dance floor not to hide, but to celebrate every part of who you are—the girl who faced darkness, who thought she might lose herself, but who found the strength to stand tall. You’ll create your own beat and make your own way. Your heart will beat to a rhythm that’s pure and real—your rhythm.

Even when the world tries to pull you down, remember you are loved and worthy of all the joy and freedom that life can offer. You’ll find peace where there was once chaos and purpose where there was emptiness. One day, you’ll dance, no longer bound by the shadows. You’ll be free, whole, and fearless.

Stand tall, girl. The world is waiting for you.

With all the love you’re still learning to give yourself,