Dear younger Aj,

I just wanted to reach out and remind you that these past 28 years haven’t been in vain. It gets better…trust me.

Life gets rough, but you’ll make it.

Years 1-4 are foggy. I doubt you remember.

Years 5-7 summers were lit but you coined the term “Cry Baby”. You were forced to understand death; but never properly learned how to grieve.

Look at us now, emotionally mature. Shout out to the people that called us emotional. We now wear that badge with honor.

Years 8-12 dark times grew. Unknowing of my body and exposed to a world without a parental advisory label. New memories with a brand-new family. Silent cries for help and a prescription to mask the much-needed attention and conversations you desired. Just a kid looking forward to the weekends.

You blocked a lot of stuff out. Aj, do you remember? I do.

Look at us now, standing in our truth and sharing a testimony God hand wrote for us.

Aj, you’re so courageous. I love you.

Years 13-17 our nieces were the tribe. So many undeveloped bonds. Venturing down a unique path. Overlooked. Misunderstood. Fighting for a spot in a clique, you didn’t fit with. Letting society mold you and still standing with Christ. So naive and unaware of how cruel the world was about to get.

Look at us now…

Years 18-22 setbacks became the new norm. We motivated each other. NYC was a whole different ball game. You tried to take life by the horns; but the lack of experience left you defected and crushed.

Aj, no one handed us the driver’s manual for life…

Years 23-26 so many late nights in LES. Assignments due at midnight. The walk across the stage took forever and the president’s hand was so sweaty. A young woman with endless potential. Surviving became all you knew. Friends came and gone. Guys loved you for a season. Financial struggles. Unloved by yourself, repeating history. More funerals and you even had the audacity to question God.

Aj, the world was too much for us.

It gets better though…trust me, I know.

You can’t even imagine how wonderful life will become. You’re a beautiful soul and you deserve so much. Guardian Angels have been flying beside you for years.

Look at us now…

Year 27 and half of 28, desperately seeking a fresh start… Georgia seemed like the perfect opportunity; or maybe it just looked cool on Instagram. Who knows. Grateful for the experiences and new humans you met. There was something about the city you heart yearned for. Mentally exhausted you stood strong for your team. Withering away slowly. You had no choice but to keep going. Calculating how many miles are between Sandy Springs and Harlem with a pit stop in Virginia. It’s scary how much can change in a few months. A major career shift and a bumpy road back up North. Starting over from scratch but doing it with some experience this time around. Lonely days and lonely nights.

Aj, life gets better. I can’t wait for you to see. The current pain you’re feeling will soon fade away. You must hang on and stay true to yourself.

I don’t want to spoil the rest of 28 for you.

Aj, I love you.

Everything in your life has led you to this moment and there will be more moments that lead you to the future. Girl, I can’t stress it enough. Your future is so bright. You get everything you’ve always wanted. The love, the house, the family, the career, the peace, and you find your true self.

Aj, you got this.

I’ll see you soon.

With love,

Future Aj