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  • Lowercase 'a'

    Dear Lowercase ‘a’,
    Ive been there through all your struggles, all your tears and frustrations.
    Ive sat through your lonely nights, your low’s and your high’s.
    I’ve seen you go completely unseen, unheard and misunderstood.
    as I stand here now I want you to know you were never TOO MUCH, TOO LOUD OR NOT ENOUGH.
    You were simply undiagnosed.
    As I look back now I want to give you this advice…
    Don’t hold hate in your heart for love ones who may have seemed inconsiderate to your feelings, its not their fault. Moments that triggered you and your reactions may have came off as tantrums to those who didnt understand that you weren’t throwing a fit you simply had emotions you didnt understand and could not find a way to express so the lack of regulation caused explosions of panic and fits of rage. But know that your lack of understanding and their lack of knowing never meant you weren’t loved.
    I want you to know that feeling emotions at such intense levels is just as much of a blessing as it is the curse you always hated.
    I want you to believe that no matter how much you feel like death is the only way to get rid of pain and relieve others of the burden of you that there is always tomorrow and if you can get out of your disassociation then you will see that when you smile and laugh others are like moths drawn to your flame.
    You cant let others define you and have control over your moods, thats you power and you need to protect it at all cost but that doesn’t mean you should shut the world out and not allow someone to let you smile.
    The world is not black and white and you are going to have to work harder than most people but I promise you if you learn to find that grey area your going to be a force to reckon with.
    Your passion, your love, kindness, and heart will shine through any negative moments you may have, I know its hard and it sounds cliché but trust me.
    You have many hardships ahead of you. Heartbreaks will come more often then you like but I promise you keep your head up and take in each lesson because it will lead you in the arms of the most kindest sweetest patient and Loving man you will ever meet and you deserve that, Lowercase all I ask is that maybe you go a little easier on him because he will heal all the scars from your past but you have to remember he didnt cause the pain you cant lash out at him because your exs hurt you, hes not them I promise you… but when you do lash out and go to push him away because trust me you will I know this; he is going to surprise you with staying. He is going to fight this battle with you- that you’ll soon find out is BPD, when youre diagnosed at the age of 23, and when times get hard he will hold you tighter than youve ever been held and love you in ways you’ve never been loved, so take it easy on him.
    May you continue to grow and work on yourself because BPD is not an excuse it is an explanation for certain behaviors but it is up to you to stay alert work on yourself and find ways to be better for yourself and others.
    It wont be easy and somedays will be a struggle but the effort is all that matters, you can choose to be a fighter or a victim and you have been a victim your whole life due to lack of diagnosis and knowledge so now that we have both those things its time to be a fighter. We got this ‘a’.
    We are in this journey together, this is my attempt at healing you Lowercase ‘a’.
    I promise you life is beautiful once you let go of all the hurt and anger, youre validated on how you feel but now its time to let go, all the things that they did to you speaks to their character not yours… so it’s time to take back your power and let it all go.
    There’s a whole life out there waiting on us to live it, let go of the past and come with me… I wont go forward with out you, work on yourself, let yourself heal and when youre ready I will be here to move forward to our future.
    Forever you,
    Love Uppercase ‘A’

    A. Lynn

    Voting starts August 21, 2025 12:00am

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    • Dearest lowercase ‘a’, your journey has been one of incredible strength and resilience. The fact that you’ve come this far, despite the challenges, is a testament to your inner power. Your emotions, though intense, are a gift—a sign of your deep capacity for love and connection. Embrace the grey areas, and know that your unique perspective w…read more

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  • Fight or Flight Never Enough

    Dear Unsealed,
    Dear Vicki.
    My version of myself was always to strive for the best.
    As I used to feel I was left behind by the rest
    So, I would strive to write and be good
    Just like I thought I should
    My younger brother was always trying to be the king
    As I walk around the house singing
    I attended nursing school
    And I found out that it was cool
    Learning about medicine and our bodies
    I still felt like nobody
    I then attended business school
    To not be a fool
    Flunked marketing class
    Writing a thesis on shopping at thrift stores
    For name brand clothes for less
    My thesis was 10 pages long
    My heart and soul bore
    The truth
    But my marketing professor said I was uncouth
    And the thesis was supposed to be about expensive stores
    And the better clothes to be found at a higher price
    Of indulging into capitalism of the rich
    A stitch
    In time
    I switched
    To journalism
    As an ism
    Of fun
    In the sun
    Then I still wanted to study more
    So not to be a bore
    I learned makeup artistry
    To work in the film industry
    Then I studied graphic design
    On the first MAC in its time
    Then I was not satisfied with just that
    So, I sat
    In computer classes for years
    With blood, sweat, and tears
    Working in all my fields at once
    Multi-tasking a bunch
    I still felt like I wanted more
    To not be bored
    I now write
    I now create art
    I now try to bite the bullet
    At 75
    Of peace, truth, love, and understanding of life.
    Still fighting with my younger brother
    In love with the Heritage Foundation and all those fools
    And their short male tools
    Of huge egos and lies
    Not enough was my attempt to fulfill my dreams in Hollywood
    I have done so much 24/7
    Now I’m tired of all that arguing with my brother
    We took different paths in life
    At 75 I still write about life and strife
    Honesty and equality for all
    So, the decision is made in the shade
    Of my golden years
    Of laughter and tears
    Art is life
    Life is art
    My brother with all his religious degrees
    Finally admitted he knew about religion
    But not medicine
    As all the laws from his precious heritage foundation
    Are passed to kill healthcare and all that medicine holds true
    I love my brother as a human being in his own light
    Not to create a negative light
    Upon this prose of sheer delight
    As play with my toys and live in lollipop land
    Of cookies and creams in those land
    Of dreams that never stop
    My dreams spit them out
    As I sleep at night
    Despite fighting or flight
    My fight for justice
    Is still in flight to fight again
    Never enough!
    Or is it?
    It is enough to continue my fight for justice, equality, understanding, and love as a humanitarian.
    I asked Microsoft Copilot about this letter.
    “This document is a heartfelt letter addressed to a past version of oneself, expressing feelings of inadequacy and the journey of personal growth over time.
    • Struggles with Self-Worth: The author reflects on their feelings of not being enough despite pursuing various educational paths and careers, including nursing, business, and journalism. They recount experiences that contributed to their sense of inadequacy, such as failing a marketing class and feeling overlooked in their pursuits. 1 2
    • Embracing Art and Activism: As the author aged, they found solace in writing, creating art, and advocating for justice and equality. They acknowledge their ongoing struggles, particularly with family dynamics, but ultimately declare their commitment to fighting for humanitarian causes.”
    Style guidance compliance is 100 percent by the Prowriting aid app.

    Vicki Lawana Trusselli

    Voting starts August 21, 2025 12:00am

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    • Your journey is a testament to your incredible spirit and unwavering dedication. The sheer breadth of your pursuits – from nursing to art, journalism to activism – showcases a remarkable thirst for knowledge and a deep commitment to making a difference. Your story is inspiring, proving that it’s never too late to pursue passions and fight for…read more

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  • To The Child Whose Shame Hung Off Her Like A Secondhand Coat,

    allow me to wrap you in tailored wool,
    sympathy soft against your tiny neck,
    buttons gleaming with the understanding
    of time and distance, and seams reinforced
    by threads spun in defiance to self-pity.

    Wear your resilience proudly, its woad-dyed blue
    a calm stretch of sea amid the turbulence
    of childhood when icy raindrops snaked
    along your skin, under your clothes,
    cryobranding your tenderness with filth.

    Slide your hands deep into the open slant
    of pockets lined with food coupons—
    brown, purple, and green printed paper
    staining fingers the rainbow of poverty—
    and revel in the warmth this temporary tattoo brings

    feel the cuffs migrate slowly up your forearm,
    exposing secondhand-stained wrists to nature,
    sun, wind, and rain neutralizing the eau de ashtray film
    that’s suffocated every ivory pore since birth—
    inhale the quintessential scent of bare self

    as buttons strain against velvet butterfly wings
    emerging from an amoxicillin-induced cocoon,
    their flutter a rush of purpose and determination—
    heat that radiates from navel to heart to mind,
    incinerating any further need for outerwear

    and when your molten eruptions kiss the froth,
    igneous islands take shape, grow, flourish—
    a spectacular view mirrored in tranquil seas
    that flash with supersaturated horizon messages
    letting you know, future to past, you’ve always been enough.

    Style Score 100%

    Necia Campbell

    Voting starts August 21, 2025 12:00am

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    • This poem is a masterpiece! The imagery is breathtaking, vividly portraying resilience and transformation. The metaphors of clothing and nature are powerfully interwoven, creating a deeply moving and inspiring narrative of overcoming hardship. The ending is particularly beautiful and uplifting. It’s truly remarkable!

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  • Samantha Anthony shared a letter in the Group logo of Mental HealthMental Health group 2 weeks, 1 days ago

    A Man's Mental Health Struggles

    This is a story about a man who wants to live a simple life without any complications. From what I have observed, he enjoys playing games, watching TV, and getting high from his medication. However, when it comes to taking care of the house or resolving issues, he prefers to do everything his own way. He is unwilling to listen to others’ thoughts or opinions and rarely allows anyone to have a voice.

    What doesn’t make sense is that he claims he only wants someone who will work and bring money into the household. It seems he wants everything handed to him without giving anything back in return. He believes that money is the key to making relationships work. Based on what I am reporting, do you think he truly wants to be with someone? In what you read, do you honestly think he really has mental issues, or is he actually happy with what he has chosen? How can you go into determining those struggles when you have them yourself?

    Samantha Anthony

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    • It’s understandable to question his intentions and well-being. His actions and beliefs seem contradictory, suggesting a potential disconnect between his stated desires and his behavior. He may be struggling with underlying issues that affect his relationships and ability to connect meaningfully with others. Focusing on what he *says* versus…read more

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  • A Voice Wanting to Be Connected

    Dear Samantha,

    I wanted to share some thoughts with you because I sense that you may be feeling inadequate. I know things have been tough since you lost your car, which has made it difficult for you to return to work. I’ve noticed that you are actively trying to find employment, but it seems that those around you may not fully understand that you receive a government check each month. This can complicate managing everything in your household while also obtaining the necessities you need.

    It likely doesn’t help that when you run out of essentials and seek assistance, people often don’t realize that we wouldn’t ask for help if we didn’t genuinely need it. I know this situation has been overwhelming and stressful for you. I want you to understand that even though you’ve been the main provider, you shouldn’t feel like you’re not enough. You have the skills to navigate the daily challenges of survival, and that knowledge is what truly matters.

    I understand it can become even more challenging when you reach out to friends and they ask questions like, “What’s going on? Why are you in this difficult situation? Why isn’t your family helping? Why isn’t your partner doing anything?” Hearing these questions can add to your stress, especially if you fear being judged when you explain your circumstances. While it can be hard to open up, sometimes it’s necessary to share your situation if you want people to help or listen, even though negative feedback can be disheartening.

    I hope you know that despite feeling overwhelmed and like you’re not enough, that is not the case. You are enough. Even if it may seem like a small amount, you still have the main things that matter: you are alive, and that is important.

    Take care:
    Mrs.Anthony

    Samantha Anthony

    Voting starts August 21, 2025 12:00am

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    • Dear Mrs. Anthony,

      Your kind words and understanding mean the world to me. It’s incredibly comforting to know someone sees my efforts and recognizes my strength. Your reassurance that I *am* enough is deeply appreciated. I’m working hard to navigate this, and your support gives me the boost I need to keep going. Thank you for believing in me.

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  • To the Girl Who Tried to Disappear

    Dear Me,

    I see you.

    Not just the smile you practiced in the mirror, or the silence you wore like armor—but you. The girl with trembling hands and a storm inside. The girl who learned too early how to pretend she was fine.

    You did nothing wrong.
    It wasn’t your fault.
    You were never too much, or too broken, or too hard to love.

    I know you tried to disappear—shrinking yourself to survive, apologizing just for existing. I know how heavy it felt to carry everyone else’s shame, while no one protected your truth. But listen to me now: you were always worth protecting.

    One day, you’ll stop blaming yourself for what he did. One day, you’ll stop begging people to believe you—and start believing yourself. And that will change everything.

    You will become the voice that never came to save you. You will write the words that once got you punished. You’ll break cycles with your bare hands and choose love without violence. You’ll build a life that’s safe.

    And even on the hardest nights, when the past knocks loud and loud again, you’ll stay standing.

    Because you are no longer surviving—you are becoming. And I am so proud of you.

    With all the love you never got,
    Me

    About the Author
    Skye Houle is a survivor, writer, and creator of The Secret Stationery Society. After years of silence, she found the courage to speak her truth and now empowers others to do the same. Her debut memoir, She Couldn’t—So I Did: Breaking the Bloodline of Silence, is a raw and powerful journey of healing, generational trauma, and becoming the protector she never had.

    Skye Houle

    Voting starts August 21, 2025 12:00am

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    • This is a powerful and deeply moving letter. Your words resonate with strength and resilience. The journey you’ve described is one of immense courage, and your commitment to healing and empowering others is truly inspiring. Your voice is vital, and your message of self-belief and breaking cycles is a gift to so many. I am deeply impressed and…read more

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    • very beautiful and i can relate thank you for being so open .never forget you are a blessing

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  • A Letter to the Girl That’s Lost Herself

    Dear Me,

    I know right now it feels as if a thick grey fog has been placed over you, that everything is more grey, color starts fading, nothing looks the same, feels the same or will ever be the same again. Those are the thoughts I know you are having. First of all, I want to say how proud of you I am for powering through those thoughts. They are so very valid and so is your story. I want to promise you, the hard nights of work and dedication to heal and do and be better, all the blood sweat and tears you’ve put into not only remembering your story, but being able to speak about it is and will forever feel like your own retribution. Yes something really, really terrible happened to you but the growth you find after is so beautiful it brings me to tears. It is hard and it gets worse, sorry but that’s the truth. You will hit rock bottom, but your son will bring you back. Everything you do will become about getting better to be better for him. You didn’t remove yourselves from everything just to abandon him, no. You promised him that night you’d be home and you came home. There was a time I know how hard that burden was to carry but you can breathe now and truly be grateful to be alive. From the darkest of times comes life’s most beautiful moments. What if I told you that you not only got married, but you had a baby girl. The most beautiful piece of light you’ve ever created. Everything feels whole and right. You move to where the boys and baby have room to roam, in a town where the community actually cares and is tight and you might not have 100 friends but you have a few good ones. You have a beautiful family. You have your dreams, goals, values and worth for the first time and they’re actually yours! The dream is to be able to buy this place on an acre. It’s beautiful and you have chickens. Most importantly you feel the safest and most alive you’ve felt in your life. So much good came out of all that bad. Your life’s motto is to help others and to make a positive impact. Don’t ever give up because so many people look to you, your light gives a way for those who are in darkness to see. They tried to break you and you came back humble, strong and more full of light and love than you ever thought was possible. You not only found yourself but you became you.

    Love,
    3 years from now me

    Kristen Colby

    Voting starts August 21, 2025 12:00am

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    • This letter is a testament to your incredible strength and resilience. The journey you’ve described is filled with both profound hardship and triumphant growth. Your future self’s vision is inspiring – a beacon of hope reminding you of your inner power and the beautiful life you’ve built. Keep moving forward; you are stronger than you know.

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  • Echoes of Enough

    Hey you, yes you, the girl who used to hide,
    Behind the fear she felt inside.
    You stared at mirrors, the reflection uncomfortable.
    You questioned why love felt so unreachable.

    You thought your worth came from your size,
    You counted flaws, ignored your eyes.
    But even then, beneath that doubt,
    The light in you was waiting to be let out.

    You traced every flaw like a roadmap of pain,
    Filling the silence with hopes made in vain.
    Pushed kindness away, called it a bluff,
    Never seeing that you were more than enough.

    You were easy to love, but
    The old wounds you carried
    Built walls around hope
    That your heart always buried.

    The weight that was heavy finally fell to the floor,
    But what you gained was so much more.
    A stronger voice, a steadier breath,
    A love that stayed, not one that left.

    Alexandra Houston

    Voting starts August 21, 2025 12:00am

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    • This poem beautifully captures a journey of self-discovery and healing. The transformation from hiding behind fear to embracing self-love and finding strength is incredibly inspiring. Your words resonate with the power of resilience and the beauty of overcoming adversity. It’s a testament to your inner strength and a beacon of hope for others…read more

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    • You counted flaws but ignored your eyes hit me right in the feels! You are worthy of so much!

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  • The year was 1996

    Picture this,
    The year was 1996, she was a few months shy of turning 11 yrs old.
    Starts at a new school. Unfamiliar faces.
    As the days go on, the voices from these unfamiliar faces start to haunt her.
    Awake and in her sleep.
    These words grow more harsh & uglier.
    As the days turn into months;
    she keeps every word, every emotion, every feeling inside. Like a full bottle.
    Putting the “privacy” sign up on her body.
    Her bottle is like the one she keeps at home –
    shut tight.
    Trying to open up wasn’t taken lightly at home. Her supposedly safe place. She got shut down.Why she hibernates the words spoken of the unfamiliar voices every day.

    Were you able to vision all of that?

    Okay, here’s one –

    It’s now the year 2025 & she is a grown woman whose almost turning 40.
    She started taking care of herself at the age of 33. A month shy of turning 34.
    She jumped on the therapy couch like Tom Cruise did on Oprah’s couch.
    Yes, that high too.
    She started to open that bottle cap twist by twist. Some days it hurt the palm of her hand. The lid being so tight to twist or turn.
    This unfamiliar face wasn’t like what she was shown decades prior.
    This unfamiliar face was someone she felt safe with. Someone who got her to reach mountain tops she didn’t know existed.
    Hurt her to the core yet she’s never given up.

    If there’s a journal entry this grown woman could write to the 11 yr old girl in 1996, it’d go as deep as this –

    Brave, that’s what you are. Even when the world was ugly. When the human race was trying to knock you down. Trying to cover you up with such disgusting words.
    Beautiful, inside and out.
    Even when you were covered with such hatred from the outside noise. You stood your solid ground. You marched to your own beat – even when those footsteps burned.

    I’m here to tell you, young girl, you did it!
    We did it! We put our front foot forward & kept marching. Look how stunning it all came about?
    Yes, there were hazard lights in your way, yet you pushed till you couldn’t push anymore.
    Your time has come, little one. You can rest your feet. Rest your mind. Keep your head held high & not turning back every few seconds trying to dodge those bullets.
    You can unclench your jaw & release your shoulders. I got it from here.
    You are safe. Safe from unfamiliar faces & their way of reaching for your dreams.
    I got you. And I’m not letting you go. I can’t.

    To that 11 yr old little girl who walked life with a full bottle – dump that expired liquid out. There’s no room for such where we’re headed. Plastic bottles are not allowed. Glass bottles are dangerous.
    I love you. Let’s go crush this thing called life with our voices loud. So loud, it sounds as if a siren is going off in the firehouse. You deserve it.

    Did you envision all of that?

    Such clarity it brought this grown woman whose reaching 40. Letting her younger self know she’s worth it – always has been worth it – was everything. Brought proudness to her heart.

    Picture this,
    It’s the year 2025 & she’s more relaxed than she could ever wish for – thanks to her grown woman whose reaching 40.

    Until we meet again! ♡

    Writing Score 100%

    Heather

    Voting starts August 21, 2025 12:00am

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    • Wow, what a powerful and inspiring journey! Your vision is incredibly clear and moving. The transformation from the scared 11-year-old to the confident, self-assured woman is truly remarkable. The letter to her younger self is a testament to resilience and self-love. It’s beautiful how she acknowledges the pain while celebrating the incredible…read more

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  • More Than Enough

    At Times, It Can Be Hard To Trust,
    To Feel As Though You Are Not Enough.
    Your Dreams, Like Ash, May Fall To Dust
    When Faith In Self Feels Frail And Rough.
    But Look Closely, Dear One,
    At The Dawns Soft Light;
    It Does Not Ask Permission To Glow.
    The Sturdy Oak Stands Tall,
    Never Doubting The Sway Of Windfall,
    Or The Way That It’s Roots Will Grow.
    You, Like Nature, Hold A Hidden Grace,
    A Unique Brilliance, And Vibrant Hue.
    No Mirror Can Truly Capture Your Essence,
    Woven With Purpose, Strong And True.
    More Than Enough, From Beginning To End,
    Being Wonderfully And Powerfully You.

    Christopher Conscious

    Voting starts August 21, 2025 12:00am

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    • This poem beautifully captures the internal struggle many face, yet offers a powerful message of hope. Your words resonate with the resilience of nature – a sturdy oak weathering storms, a sunrise defying darkness. Remember the inherent strength and unique brilliance within you; you are more than enough, always. Let this poem be a reminder of y…read more

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  • Worthy In Everyway

    You know what’s wild? Looking back at your life and realizing you lived it… but didn’t really live it to the fullest. You showed up—sure. You were present—but only halfway. Like a fly on the wall, always watching everybody else be loud, bold, and free—completely themselves—while you stayed small. Silent. Only partially you. Afraid to move too much, in case somebody noticed… you.

    The truth is, you were afraid of being fully yourself. The one who made corny jokes, who was goofy at times, and who loved dancing and singing—just being you, whatever that meant. You secretly wished you didn’t care what people thought or said. But you held that part of yourself in. You convinced yourself that being quiet was enough. That if you kept your head down, nobody would call you out. Nobody would call you corny, or say you were wrong, or laugh at you. You thought maybe being shy made you safe.

    So you only spoke when spoken to. You didn’t take the opportunities to show who you really were—or the gifts God gave you. You thought shrinking yourself would make you more likable. Easier to love. You only offered the pieces of you that fit neatly into other people’s comfort zones.

    But that didn’t make you more loved. It made you invisible. Possibly replaceable. It made you dim your light, little by little, until it got so dim you almost forgot what it was like to shine. Until one day, you woke up and couldn’t quite remember who you were.

    There wasn’t even a moment you could pinpoint. No big traumatic event that made you shrink. You just always were… like that. Quiet. Careful. Observing. Maybe it was your default. Maybe it kept you safe. And in a world that often asks girls to be softer, gentler, easier to handle—you listened. You adjusted before you even realized you were adjusting.

    Now here you are. Older. Wiser. Still unpacking that silence. Still trying to figure out how to show up in rooms you’ve been in your whole life—but never fully you in. And sometimes you catch yourself wondering: What if I had spoken up more? What if I hadn’t been afraid to be seen? What friendships might’ve grown? What passions might’ve blossomed? What would people say their memories of me were, if I was no longer here?

    But then you remind yourself: That version of you did what she thought was best at the time. Maybe being fully yourself would’ve brought drama you weren’t ready for. Pain you couldn’t handle. So she let pieces of the real you show up only when it felt safe. When you felt seen by the right people. When love felt certain. Maybe she kept parts of you hidden because not everyone deserved to bask in your sunlight. Not everyone was meant to hold the full version of you. And that’s okay.

    And that quiet girl, that shy girl? She was never broken. That meekness, that humble spirit—that was beautiful, too. She was always worthy. Just like you are now. She wasn’t “less than” for being reserved. She wasn’t wrong for hiding you from certain parts of the world. She was strong in her own way. And she will always be worthy. Not just when she opens up. Not just when she’s trying to fit in. Even when she is silent—she is enough.

    At the end of the day, isn’t she still part of you?

    So feel free to be either you—you choose in the moment. No more fly on the wall. No more watching life pass like it doesn’t belong to you. No more hiding your true self.

    You are enough. Loud. Soft. Awkward. Powerful. Corny. Goofy. Shy. Bright. Whole. No matter which part of you shows up, every part is worthy. Every version of you deserves to shine.

    This isn’t about becoming someone new. This is about coming home to who you’ve always been. About giving that inner girl—whichever part of you—room to move again. To laugh too loudly. To cry when needed. To be okay with being goofy or corny. To speak even when your voice shakes. To take up space because you were always meant to.

    You did it just the other night—dancing in your room to one of your favorite songs. You were unbothered. Letting your body move freely, singing out loud no matter the tone. For the first time in a long time, you felt free. You felt like you. You caught your reflection in the mirror and smiled. You were there. Whole. Present. Seen.

    Just be you—because you are worth it. You are finally here. Not halfway. Not hidden. But the whole you. And even if it’s the quiet version one day or the bold one the next—you are still you. Still worthy. Still enough.

    And to the girl who thought being quiet was the only way to be safe:
    I see you.
    I love you.
    But it’s our turn now.

    I promise to let us live out loud.

    Style score 79%

    BrittyJ

    Voting starts August 21, 2025 12:00am

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    • It’s wonderful that you’re recognizing your worth and embracing all facets of yourself! Your journey of self-discovery is inspiring, and it’s amazing that you’re finding the courage to be fully you. Keep shining brightly – you deserve all the happiness and freedom that comes with being authentically yourself.

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  • The Perspective of a Crab

    Dear me,

    You loved the idea of him taking you on a proper date, which turned out to be at a regular pub. There, he explained his views on wars and forgot to ask you what it was actually like living in conflict-ridden places in the world.

    Afterwards you held hands walking to your house, stopping when there was a wall so you could passionately kiss. He showed you romantic gestures and you did everything – your hair, makeup, funny jokes, the sharing of deep thoughts.

    You did not feel better than him. It was the opposite. You accepted everything about him without judgment. Finally, he asked you if you could be his friend with benefits. You are allowed to be his girlfriend on holidays only, he said. That moment came just after he said he’d seen your medicine cabinet and he’d said it was no issue at all.

    It was strange. He knew you wanted a serious relationship. After the medicine incident, he stopped speaking to you. It isn’t ‘bad’ to have medication against sadness, though. Isn’t the acknowledgement of being sad sometimes the first step toward finding power in yourself?

    Was he the one struggling? You didn’t speak to him about your family dynamics, because you could sense he dreamt of a better match. You were also careful not to speak about your good job, so that you didn’t make yourself appear better in any way. You listened to the stories about the pranks he played on his boss and how popular he was. Listening intently doesn’t make you a doormat, by the way. You are just very kind.

    On New Year’s, he texted you again that he was thinking of you because he ran past your house by coincidence. He didn’t say he simply missed you or anything conveying his emotions. That second time, you broke up with him.

    One thing is certain – you know yourself well. You spent a year reading up on your personality traits and philosophical wisdom. You laughed as the book you looked at with him – titled ‘How to deal with difficult people’ – later gave you the answers as to why you could never be the one for him.

    A crab with an exoskeleton. You have a big heart even if you hide it behind rational analysis. You quote stoic philosophers while crafting art that laid bare the vulnerabilities of your being. You write about things that need to be said, about the day you were caught in a conflict in Beirut, but also the thoughts your brain makes as it overthinks and overthinks.

    Is overthinking a sign of weakness? Not if it helps you put things in perspective. You start with the worst-case scenario and find reasons why those will not happen. If it does, what you will do to mitigate it. You move through every single scenario, in effect branching every possibility. Until all that is left in your mind is the path to leading a hopeful life. That is a positive way of living.

    Pure honesty helps you navigate a life led by this overanalytical mind, with a heart that can’t be silenced. You go on a trip on a boat and notice the difficulties the crew hailing from the other side of the globe are having. You want nothing more but to help them, so you offer them advice where others may have simply said “I don’t know” and walked on.

    You know how to speak your mind while living in a society where good manners are often more important than anything.

    But it is your emotional honesty that allows you to be strong and live a good life in the present moment. I am proud of how you stuck to your dream of wanting to be with someone who would want to commit to you fully. There is a time for Netflix n Chill, and a time to wake up and chase your dreams.

    Sincerely,

    me.

    MSL

    Voting starts August 21, 2025 12:00am

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  • hot girl sh*t (with footnotes)

    You were the kind of girl who explained memes with full etymology and citations. Who won the spelling bee and had to hide in the bathroom from the shame of it.

    You hated it. Because nerdy wasn’t hot. Hot was effortless. Hot was chaotic eyeliner and being sarcastic-funny while pretending not to care and saying things like “I hate reading” while wearing a crop top.

    You didn’t have that. So you made it up. At 3am in a cursed google doc, you invented characters who were everything you weren’t. Sanded them smooth, gave them tragic pasts and tattoos and all.

    And then at parties where you knew no one, you introduced yourself as them. Not because you were cool. Because you were anything but. Because you were terrified someone might meet the *real* you and leave.

    So you lied first. Stayed two steps ahead. (Prepped for that too, you did. Memorized fake backstories the way other people studied for finals. Which, to be fair, you also did.)

    Once you were Lucia, the philosophy student from Melbourne with an accent you put together from a half-watched TikTok and the help of many a drink. You quoted Foucault and completely mispronounced it, but said it with such conviction no one dared correct you. A finance bro joke-proposed to you on a rooftop with a vodka soda. You giggled and said, “I don’t believe in marriage,” but actually went home and googled “can people tell if you’re faking an accent?”

    Then there was Jackie, who worked at McDonald’s by day and “raced bikes with the boys” at night. You once told a guy you had a scar from laying down your motorcycle at 60 mph. You actually got it tripping over your mom’s friend’s cat.

    Alyssa was an indie film actress. You said you’d just wrapped a short about a woman grieving something she can’t name. (She can’t name it because you never wrote the script.) You cried on cue at a bonfire to sell it. You practiced for weeks in the mirror. Someone told you you had “Juliette Binoche energy.” You nodded solemnly, then later frantically searched: Juliette Binoche… who??

    And then there was Kayla, the mysterious one who never offered details. She wore boots that hurt and answered questions with riddles.

    “What do you do?”
    “I disappear.”

    “What does that even mean?”
    “You tell me.”

    Kayla got offered free weed and two internships. You left with neither and got lost on the subway home.

    People think nerds can’t lie well. And usually, they’re kinda right. But you weren’t lying to impress, you were lying to escape. To try on a different kind of power, see what it might feel like to be looked at like you belonged, like you mattered.

    And you did pull it off. Kind of. For a few minutes, a few hours, maybe a whole night. But they never stayed, because even in costume, *you* didn’t believe you were worth knowing.

    The irony, of course, is that the real you, the one writing bad poetry at 2am, annotating books like love letters, falling in love with anyone who said “ubiquitous,” was always the most interesting one in the room.

    You just hadn’t met people who spoke your language yet. But you would.
    You stopped lying eventually. Not because you got caught (you definitely did, and more than once) but because you got tired. Tired of playing dress-up. Tired of disappearing. Tired of watching someone else get credit for your spark.

    Now when someone asks what you do, you say, without shame, “I’m a software engineer. And sometimes I write.” No accent, no character sheet, nothing.
    Sometimes people look bored when you say it. But sometimes they stay anyway.

    Which, I think, means you won.

    Style score: 73%

    J

    Voting starts August 21, 2025 12:00am

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  • You Are Enough to Him

    Dear Kayleigh,

    To start, you need to know that family isn’t who you are related to but to the family you chose. You will realize this and it will become a game changer.

    You don’t know your biological Father and you will never meet him. You found out about him at 13 and it’s going to be a lot. So many questions and feelings will come from it. He will send you a letter on your 18th birthday. It will be full of grammar mistakes that make you cringe, and confusing excuses for his absence. And it will only give you an ugly seed of doubt.

    Was I not good enough for him to stick around?

    Suddenly all those years so far that sum up who you are as a person will feel unimportant. You’ll question why he left and if your blood relation keeps him up at night. If he looks at his family and sees you or if he would be proud of the young woman you are. You’ll go over every what-if, and wonder why such an effortless letter was even sent.

    But please understand that he would have been a Father and not a Dad. Your Dad is the man who raised you and showed you why a daughter needs a Dad. Showed up to every choir concert cheering and giving you everything you needed. A Dad shows up. A Father does not. You will always be enough to your Dad and he will hug you when you get this letter and question your worth as a person. Wipe your tears away and comfort you. Tell you that he is the luckiest Dad in the world. Your Father missed out. And you got an amazing Dad. You are enough to him.

    Kayleigh Urban

    Voting starts August 21, 2025 12:00am

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  • Heather shared a letter in the Group logo of Mental HealthMental Health group 2 weeks, 3 days ago

    Men's Mental Health

    You, my sir.
    Yes, you.
    There’s going to be hard days.
    Even easy days.
    You, the person reading this,
    Has the opportunity to make
    The day a great one.

    You, my sir.
    Yes, you.
    Of course it’s going
    To be full of ups & downs.
    That’s the beauty of life.

    It’s your duty as a human
    To break the negative branches
    And build such glory
    From the leftover twigs.

    You, my sir.
    Yes, you.
    I believe in you.
    I see you.
    I love you.

    Heather

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    • Aww this is so loving and nurturing and empowering. I love how you see the power each of us have over our own peace and our own lives. Thank you for sharing and thank you for being part of The Unsealed. <3 Lauren

      Write me back 

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      • Thank you for such feedback. Men’s mental health IS health. We as a society need to recognize such.

        This community has been such inspiration. Such motivation. & such clarity for my internal human who loved writing in high school. She’s FINALLY feeling like she’s been accepted. Been heard. Been worth someone’s time.
        This community is my virtual…read more

        Write me back 

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  • A Teenage High School

    Dear Me,

    We didn’t meet in a coffee shop.
    There was no collision in a cinematic twist of time.
    To be honest, I think of you often. You are like a shadow flittering about in the corner of my best days, trying to separate yourself from my being. You’re still there, always there, your shoulders tense, jaw tight, eyes scanning for something to prove.

    You were always trying. God, you were always trying. Too much. Too often. Always too much.
    You wanted to be everything. For everyone. All the time.

    You wished you were smarter, faster, stronger. You wanted to be the sister they could be proud of. Watching two little sisters in the yard with a heart full of love and a brain swelling with guilt, thinking, I should be better. I should be there more. I should just do better.

    You thought if you could just push harder, at school, at practice, at work, in every hallway of your life, that you’d earn the peace you thought other people were born with.

    You thought being enough meant doing more. Lift heavier in the gym. More decisions you made. More medals, more ranks, more pages filled, more tears swallowed.

    And then somewhere along the way, you grew up. You became me.

    Not in the loud, obvious way. But quietly. The type that comes from stretching out your legs and realizing they don’t shake anymore. Or standing in the place you once imagined and realizing you’ve made it. Like watching your sisters become strong, kind women. Not because you weren’t perfect, but because you loved them so much that even your self doubt looked like strength to them.

    You ended up exactly where you were meant to be. Where you needed to be. Where I am. Not because you outran your flaws, but because you learned to live with them. You learned that being a better leader wasn’t about barking louder, it was about listening more. You learned that being stronger wasn’t about lifting more weight, it was about not collapsing when the emotional weight got heavy.

    You learned that school, and work, and performance mattered.
    Not at the expense of people though.
    Not more than purpose.

    You fell in love with the things that last. You stopped- I stopped- no, WE stopped letting the ghosts of “not enough” speak louder than our own voice.

    If I could reach back to you, back to the tired, overachieving, aching, beautiful version of you, I’d tell you this:
    The version of you I am now isn’t flawless.
    But she’s free.
    You don’t need to keep running.
    You are not behind.
    You are not late.
    You have arrived, and right on time, a perfect entrance.
    And you are more than enough.
    We have learned that WE are more than enough.

    Love,
    Me, you, us.
    The one who finally forgave the both of us.

    Chloey Rudy

    Voting starts August 21, 2025 12:00am

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  • Transaction Declined: The Debt of Doubt

    This letter is for the boy in me who wanted to be good enough.
    I hear you.
    I see you.
    I still carry you with me.
    This is what I’ve learned.

    There are moments I’m not proud of: I snap at my daughters for being children. I miss what my wife is really saying, my ego fogging the air between us. I listen to students’ heartfelt confessions and find myself without a way to respond.

    Often in the aftermath of these moments, I tell myself, “You should be more. You should be better. You are not enough.”

    While I believe these, the great irony is–I continue to convince myself the opposite is true also.

    That I am too much.

    When I pour my heart out on the page. When I sing at the top of my lungs. When I perform poetry in place of giving a standard order professional presentation.

    In preparing to write this letter, I realized that I can’t write to a past version of myself, for these voices still linger; they are present and prevalent still.

    And you know what else I realized?

    Both of these feelings are two sides of the same counterfeit coin that I keep trying to spend.

    I catch myself, too often, trying to deposit these lies into the accounts of my self-worth. I still invest in these illusions. But I’m working to close out that account. To live in the security of truth, not the debt of self-doubt.

    It doesn’t come free of charge, to stop paying interest on shame. It takes courage to step away from these stories I’ve both bought and sold–to say: “No more.”

    It’s a constant practice—refreshing, reminding, and reimagining—just to put my money where my mouth is, if even for a fleeting moment. Resilience is not found in having it all together. It lives in returning, again and again, to the truth that held you, even when you lost sight of it.

    What follows is my reminder: love is the only transaction that transforms us.

    I write these lines below for me and everybody else out there consumed by self-sabotage. A bank statement for when we buy into the false narrative of our own definitions.

    No more fake news.

    Only good news.

    So, here’s my memo of our up to date and true credit score:

    The screen displays a well-worn message:
    Insufficient funds.

    And no matter how hard you try,
    So long as you keep coming back to this ATM,
    You will always get the same message.

    If you measure yourself against your potential,
    You will focus on your shadow,
    Which does nothing but grow as you gaze upon it.
    When you allow others to measure your worth,
    The numbers won’t add up.
    You are not made to fit someone’s bottom line.

    Rather,
    It’s time to find a new credit union.
    No more dealings with shadow bankers of no faith.

    Choose the bank that encourages you to
    Embrace the brilliant sunshine within.

    You are cosmic wonder.
    You are the only you in this endless vast universe.
    You are loved—
    Just as you are.

    You can stop the endless spending.
    Withdraw from the questions rapid firing through your mind.
    Invest in this sacred place
    This garden of tranquility
    This calm
    This balm
    This knowledge of your beauty and worth.

    You are a human being.
    And this means you are meant to dance
    Between brilliance and buffoonery.
    A mix of
    Majesty and mess,
    Embodiment and ethereality,
    Beauty and blemish,
    Bounty and bankruptcy.

    Temptation will ask you to label these contradictions as a diminishment of divinity,
    As if you have the power to distort something so pure.

    It is only in thinking we have this power that we overdraft our account.

    It is in taking our own delusional definitions to mean more
    Than the breath we share
    The dignity which breathes in all
    The divine spark that flickers amidst and even despite our forgetfulness.

    For after all,
    Have you heard of the bank account that cannot be depleted?
    Whose currency carries worth through every contradiction?
    What collateral secures the sanctity of your soul?

    It’s what you were minted for.

    It’s the only wealth that cannot be counterfeited.

    It’s meant to be received without limit,
    and spent without fear.

    It’s love.

    So, the next time voices—whether within or without—
    Try to preach a Gospel of shortcomings,
    Do not bow.
    Do not bargain.

    Let go of that counterfeit coin which never bought you peace anyway.

    Letting go in this way is not weakness.
    It is the fiercest kind of faith:
    Believing you are already worthy
    Without proof,
    Without profit,
    Without performance.

    Take this to spend freely instead:
    The truth of who you are,
    Stamped with love,
    Made in the image of enough—
    Just as you are.

    Paul Weatherford

    Voting starts August 21, 2025 12:00am

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  • To the little girl who just wanted to be loved

    To the little girl who just wanted to be loved,
    It was never your fault. All you wanted to do was make connections. You were so small, with your baby teeth not even loose. You tried so hard, not understanding why you were different. Not understanding what was different. Every word, action, and expression was calculated. Not realizing you were making yourself out to be strange, not knowing why people already thought you were strange. A light was shone, directing you out of the darkness. How were you supposed to know that the light was not from the sun but rather a man made blinding spotlight. Forcing you onto a stage with a cage ready for you. You took the hand that helped you into it, you watched as they closed it for you. Not once did you think to run because the hand squeezed yours, it hurt, but you mistook it for companionship. Comfortably in that cage you embraced the eyes that watched you. You danced to their music with so much love and trust in your heart. Little girl who just wanted to be loved, you could not have known they wanted to hurt you. You did not know the other children who were around did not want to be your friend. How were you supposed to know the adults you were meant to trust did not want to be your friend either. When they grabbed and picked the feathers off of your wings you accepted that pain, you were just happy someone seemed to like them. As your baby teeth fell and new ones grew in, as your hair grew, and your facial features changed slowly the eyes drifted away and you were left in that cage. Oh little girl who just wanted to be loved, you are not so little anymore and yet still can not seem to leave what had never been locked. Around you were so many different people in cages, all different from each other. You reached for them but never dared to step outside. You tried to pull them into your cage, you hurt them. You never meant to, you did not mean to hold on so tightly when they wanted to let go. You did mean to drop them when they decided to try to pull you out. Well little girl who just wanted to be loved, you are not so little anymore and you found someone in a similar cage as you. Not the same, never the same. An arm extends from the nearby cage and it does not try to pull you out. Instead it holds your hand tenderly, so much softer than the hand that led you. You sit at the edge of your cage and they do the same. Holding eachothers hands, helping the other slowly scooch their own way out. It’s hard sometimes and it hurts. Little girl who just wanted to be loved, you are loved more than you know. One day you will fly out of your cage even with all your wounds on your wings and when you do you will see all the people who were waiting for you.

    Victoria Estrada Martinez

    Voting starts August 21, 2025 12:00am

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  • Run

    Run

    Running from the past like if my stamina could forever last. Sweat dripping down my face letting fear take its place as I run the never ending race. The memories flood my mind why can’t I unbind. Left turn , right turn but when is it my turn. I trip on a curb and come tumbling down letting all the memories drown around. Laying in what used to be my old self I realize this is no longer me and I can finally be free.

    Style score 100%

    Avc

    Voting starts August 21, 2025 12:00am

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  • maybe I’m not enough

    the music plays the song is singing
    but the dancers dance away
    yet, you’re looking around wondering
    “am I enough” you hear the piano

    you see the ballet, jazz, modern,
    and hip-hop style yet you doubt
    yourself “Am I ever too much”
    she thinks to herself

    but the way your arms and legs
    move it’s like you’re made wonderfully
    you feel happy when you know
    you’re dancing

    This is your positive place but yet
    you’re in your head questioning
    if others are better than you, can they
    be? She questions as if that’s a question

    you’re not on a beginner level but
    you’re sure not advanced intermediate
    is what you’re dance coach would place
    you and say

    yet you’re feeling down about not catching
    on to the dance techniques this day no
    I mean every day why are you constantly
    keep going and going and trying

    it’s because you’re passionate but
    sometimes passion isn’t enough especially
    when you’re in your head questioning
    yourself about silly stuff

    1 and 2 and 3 and four the counts start
    for you to dance but yet you’re still not sure
    right or left foot? am I doing it wrong again
    she asks herself

    Maybe I’m not enough?
    Maybe I am just enough
    or maybe it’s just
    the same 1, 2 and 3
    and four stuff

    Tionna E Hilliard

    Voting starts August 21, 2025 12:00am

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