Dear Unsealers,
The last couple of days have brought so much sadness to our country. Seeing so many young beautiful people lose their life so horrifically is too much to bear. On top of that, I feel so much frustration. Is there not anything we can do to change the trajectory of this awful problem. Is there no common ground to change something to reduce the risk too our children? With all the brain power in Washington, can’t the politicians come up with one initial action that can lead to a change in course. I know there are so many reasons why this gun violence happens. So you would think there would be so many possible ways to mitigate the problem. Instead of arguing about guns lets all try to find perhaps a liitle bit of common ground to make a difference and honor the lives of all those we have lost to our national disgrace.

From the heart with respect for everyone with views that are different then mine,

Dear Unsealers,

It’s hard to express how thankful I am for each of you. When I started this company, I was motivated by the idea that my personal experiences coping with sexual violence could inspire others. For me, this company allowed me to turn what was once a deep and dark secret into a superpower. While each of you has supported me on this journey, I am proud to say this company has become less about me and more about all of you.

I have connected with many of you, assisting you in writing your stories and sharing with you the wisdom that others have offered.

While starting any business from scratch (with nearly no startup cash) is incredibly difficult, the myriad ways we’ve deeply impacted people have given me a clear vision and pushed me to march through numerous obstacles every day.

A father whose teenage daughter struggled with a stutter wrote to me, “While teaching Morgan to relearn to talk will always be a challenge, we quickly saw the mental support she needed was far more important…There will never be a magic pill, and we knew that. Then, the Unsealed happened. It provided Morgan with an unbiased platform. It was safe. She found a place to tell her story from her perspective. …. The letter, told from her words, has acted like a coming-out party for Morgan…I am not totally sure Morgan even knows it, but I’ve seen the before and after… She has more confidence than ever to go get the life she wants.”

One of our members who has battled depression and overwhelming grief after losing his mom at a young age just recently posted, “Without The Unsealed, I most likely would be buried in the plot meant for my father, besides my mother. I wouldn’t be doing my best to offer my particular brand of hard work to my job. I wouldn’t be speaking out for the underprivileged. I wouldn’t be taking care of my father as he continues to wage his battle against Carcinoid Cancer. I am eternally grateful that the younger you became who you are in the present moment. ”

And an 18-year-old sexual assault survivor emailed me the following:
“I had mentioned that you were the sixth person I had ever told my story to, and I just wanted to follow up and say thank you for giving me the space to do that. Interestingly enough, I did not tell you my story because you were affected by a similar — and yet very, very different — experience. I told you because the way you instantly conveyed yourself as a strong female role model (but also a total stranger) created what I recognized as a safe space. You have no idea how much it means to me to see women like you… I know nearly nothing about you, but whoever it is that you are, you made me want to tell a seventh and an eighth, and a ninth person about my story… I’m not entirely sure where this sudden willingness to share my story came from, but I attribute it to you because you are the first woman I met face-to-face who used her experiences to drive her passion.”

Sometimes simply reading these testimonials make my stoic personality crack. My eyes well up with tears, and my heart overflows with emotion. I am simply amazed by what we’ve created so far. But I also realize that I am only one person, and the potential impact we can make as a community is far greater than me alone.

That’s why I have decided to add a new element to The Unsealed. Instead of just connecting with me, it’s time for you to write to each other – to be the light for one another. We created a community of pen pals – a safe place for you to express yourself and connect with people, most often strangers, who want to see you win in life. You can add friends/penpals and @ your letters to them in our specific groups, or you can post a letter in one of our groups (divided by topics: mental health, chasing your dreams, women’s empowerment, etc.) and wait and see who from our community responds. You can even start your own group. Also, you can make your letters public to share with the world or private for just our community. It’s up to you. Feel free to repost any contest entries into one of our groups so that people can write you back!

If you would like to be assigned a pen pal, reach out to me at lauren@theunsealed.com. In the meantime, please log in, explore our new interactive community and add me as your first friend/pen pal.

I hope you take part in writing, sharing, reading, and exchanging Unsealed Letters. Your words will not only impact many people on The Unsealed, but your truth will reverberate throughout the world. We as a community have the chance to bring to each other’s lives what you have all already brought to mine: hope, love, and peace.

Thank you all. I love you, and I am forever grateful for all of you! Now, it’s your time to take part in transforming many more secrets into superpowers.

P.S. Click “Write me back” below and write me back about my story, any ideas for the community, or anything else that this letter inspires you to share (You must log in and join the group to respond). I can’t wait to be enlightened by your truth.

@abbiegwrites, @abbycashton, @abbykb, @abo, @kayjahlorde, @krisqts-us-com, @mshagrin, @oneturbobenz, @abrill21, @shelleybrill, @cousin-shelly, @marcusj23, @willardogan, @wilparker1, @stevenburkett, @rschwartzsca-cpa-com. @lostone89, @telina27, @ashley_topham, @mehraslam, @lindseylamar, @katiedibs, @edwinbassler, @dsenlightenededits, @gabriellebeth, @hue-jackson, @mindfulstack, @jerricaconley, @jsimon, @redskinsjjv84, @yourbabydaddy, @okiwa002, @vcalero, @zaysmith1

To try to think of one particularly great story about my mom that really stands out..is kind of a challenge. That feels weird to write it, and said out loud its even more strange. I guess life with my mom was just an endless series of great moments, great days..a bunch of small every day things that comprised one amazing life.My mom passed away 18 years ago. Thats sometimes still very hard to believe. One particular moment stands out..and its a very sad one. But also just illustrates how strong she was and how amazing of a mother she was. I was working at my part time job one night. Mom had been declining..her years long battle with cancer was nearing its end. But I got a call from my brother or my dad at the restaurant I was working at- Mom wasnt doing well, and i needed to get to Mom and Dad’s. I left immediately and went to their house. When I got there Mom was at the bathroom sink, and maybe for the first time in my life I saw my mom scared. Uncertain. Not sure what was happening.I was upset. Dad went upstairs to get his keys and wallet, as we were gonna take Mom to the hospital. Dad asked me to get Mom to the couch and help her put on her coat and her shoes so we could go when he came downstairs. I got Mom to the couch, and I was crying a lot. I’d never seen my mom look this shaken,
and knew things weren’t good. I hugged her so hard I practically tackled her into the couch. i didn’t want to let go. But I had to help with her shoes. I sat up, and as I was trying to get her shoes on, I was struggling. The tears were flowing so much I could barely see what I was doing. Then, my mom did what she did for almost 34 years- she just made her baby (she called me that) feel reassured and better. Or tried to. She put her hand on my shoulder and my back, and said “Jimmy, it’ll be ok. Everything will be ok”. With who knows what going on in her mind, with her having to know that things weren’t going to be ok, with her maybe being scared of what was going on, her first thought was to take care of me, to protect me, to tell me everything will be ok. I will never forget that moment. As sad as it was, I dont want to forget it. because it just reaffirmed to me what I already know. That nothing mattered to Mom more than caring for and protecting her kids. That turned out to be the last day Mom spent at the house. She passed a couple weeks later. The little 4’10” Italian dynamo left us..but never left our hearts. There were far more happy memories: taking me to an Indians game on my 8th birthday. We took the bus because Dad was working second shift,and my brother had just started driving. But we hoppped on the bus and had a great time. There was the homemade pasta dinners for every holiday (even Thanksgiving had cavatelli..Italians lol). She’d make me pasta every night I had a little league game and tell me there was a double and triple in there. Like I said, the good memories were far more prevalent. But that night-as sad as it was- will stay with me forever. Mom took care of her loved ones, always put us first. Even when she had every right to put herself first. Thanks Mom. You’re the best 🙂

@theunsealed

To your younger self,

I know you because I was once you. You were always angry, so angry to the point where your dad took you to anger management classes. You would get into fights without any real cause behind it. Then, the school would suspend you because of it. I am really proud of you by the way because now we were able to cool our anger down to the point where we were able to graduate high school; with A’s and B’s throughout our junior and senior years.

You are now in college working on becoming a Digital Marketing Manager and you also gained a position in an internship as a Social Media Manager, and with two years of hard work you gained a great number of followers on Tiktok.

Stop being so angry at the world. It’s not your fault that you are going through what you’re going through and it’s also not your parent’s fault either because they don’t know what you are going through. You can’t change the past, you can only look toward the future. Drop the anger and look at your strengths and continue to be brave and strong, and lean on the people who care about you. All they want to do is see you succeed.

Love, 23-Year-Old Kayjah

To my younger self,

Several years ago, mom and dad moved out of our childhood home and mom sent me a box filled with items from our room that she didn’t know if I wanted to keep or throw away.

As I looked through this box, I found random items like a Mia Hamm Barbie in a package that I never opened and drawings from third or fourth grade. As I dug a little deeper, I also found a letter written to my future self. It was written by you – my younger self – a 17-year-old high school senior.

You’ll be happy to know that you got off the waitlist and into your top-choice school, Columbia University. While you will question whether or not you are smart enough to go there, college won’t be very difficult for you. Academics will almost come secondary to falling in love, getting your heart broken, making lifelong friendships, and starting your career.

After college, it will take a little bit of time, but you will make it on air. You will become a sportscaster. In some ways, the dream will be everything you ever imagined and more, and in other ways, you will be left hurt, frustrated and disappointed.

I’m sorry to tell you that so far, you didn’t get your own show, and you don’t have your own network.

But that’s OK.

What I love about you and what I love about me is that we follow our heart, and we stay true to our morals. We stand up for ourselves and others even when there is a heavy price to pay.

These qualities will lead you to tell the world in an open letter about what happened at that house party in Nyack when you were 16. I know you thought you’d be able to bury that, to push it away and forget what those boys did to you forever. However, it just won’t play out that way.

Don’t worry. You’re OK. You are more than OK. Your letter, which was addressed to sexual assault survivors, will help you transform all your pain into purpose.

Sharing your truth will feel so empowering, you will decide to lend your ability to write and tell a story to other people’s voices. You will start a business you can’t yet even visualize. It will be called The Unsealed, and you will ghostwrite open letters that will inspire strength and encourage equality.

While most of the letters won’t be about you, you will write the letters based on your interpretation of each person’s story. And thus, within each letter written, there will be a piece of you and a part of your heart. These letters will reflect the compassion you feel for others and the impact you want to make on the world.

The response to your work will be incredible.

Your very first letter, which was about grief, will save someone’s life. A man, who lost his mother, will reach out to you and tell you that he read the letter with a gun in his hand. By the time he finishes the letter, he will have a tear dripping down his face. That will be the moment he decides not to take his own life.

And that’s not all.

A former foster child will tell you that you made her feel seen. A father who will lose his son to cancer will thank you for caring about his child’s legacy. A teenage rape survivor will tell you that you are the reason she shared her story, and you are the reason she feels hope for her future. Countless people will be grateful because you listened to them, helped them express themselves, and amplified their voices.

Your work will give you so much happiness, purpose, and connection. The passion you feel burning through your veins will help combat the nerves that come with the uncertainties of starting and running a business.

It’s not your own show, and it’s not your own network. But this will be right for you.

Once again, you will be confident that you are good enough, but you will still want to be the best. Your dreams will once again be big, and your plan will be very specific:

Build an enormous badass company that will change the whole damn world!

You will have your moments where you wonder, “Is this possible?”

“Can I take this to the next level?”

“Will I continue to grow?”

Most of the time, you will be excited, but there will be moments that you feel scared. And in those moments, you will think of the letter your 17-year-old self wrote to your future self.

See, when I think about you and your struggle and how the cards ultimately unfolded – I know precisely the advice I want to tell you.

I want you to relax. You have wonderful friends, the best parents and you are young and curious. Stop missing out on the joy of the present moment because you’re consumed with the unknowns of your future.

Don’t worry. Everything always turns out just fine.

All you have to do is continue to follow your heart and work hard. If that doesn’t take you where you plan to go, I promise it will lead you somewhere better.

I hope this helps.

And thank you again for writing to me. The advice that I realized I wanted to give to you ended up being the exact wisdom I needed to remind myself.

We got this! Let’s go!

@kayjahlorde @oneturbobenz @amazz94 @theunsealed

It’s been almost six years since I lost my ex-boyfriend, Brian. He loved me with all his heart. And even though I broke his heart, he never stopped caring about me, supporting me, or cheering on my success. When he was alive, I spent years keeping him an arm’s distance away. At the time, I just didn’t want the same relationship that he wanted. But when he died, I almost fell in love with him all over again, or maybe I realized I never stopped loving him. At that moment, I remembered the roses he bought me for no reason, the times we ran around lower Manhattan going to psychics to see what they’d say, and the comedy shows where we laughed until our stomachs hurt. Brian never wanted to tell me “no” about anything. He always wanted to see me happy. I never really thought about how I’d feel if one day he was no longer here.

Before he died, he made me promise him that I would never settle for anyone who didn’t treat me the way he treated me. He literally made me look him in the eye and say, “I promise.” Now, when I date, and someone falls short of treating me how he wanted, it’s almost like I grieve him dying all over again. With each disappointment, I am reminded of him and how we really did have something special.

While I can’t turn back the clocks of time, I keep Brian close to my heart every day. And when I find that person who treats me how he wanted me to be treated, I will honor Brian’s life by meeting that standard as well.

Never again will I take anyone’s love for granted.

Anyone else have someone in their lives that they hold close? How do you guys deal with grief? Would love to hear from you guys <3

@amazz94 @bigstudbundy @zsigray81@delanomassey @josh-copeland @jim-c @fpjames7 @oneturbobenz @shelleybrill @telina27

Dear Roger, I want you to know that I am so grateful for your friendship. Starting The Unsealed has been really hard and at times even draining. But because of people like you, it is also really rewarding and totally worth it. People like you make me realize my work has a purpose far greater than just myself. I remember when you first reached out to me and told me your story. I was so incredibly touched that our site and our stories provided a source hope in one of the darkest moments of your life. I hope that throughout the last few years, you have found a home and a family in The Unsealed and you have more good days than bad days. Life is definitely hard. There is so much pain. There are so many different obstacles and challenges each one of us face. But I hope I have created a community that makes it a little easier to face those challenges together and make people feel like they never ever are alone in this world. I am so grateful for your support, your friendship, your encouragement and your love. It’s so cool how you were one just someone who watched me on TV and now you are a life long friend. Thank you for inspiring me. @oneturbobenz