Dear Bernie,
Life has been challenging but it will get better. Despite your circumstances, I just want to tell you that I am proud of you. Your mom gave you away because she wasn’t fit to take care of you. Her best decision was to place you in a safe, loving home with a better family. I know you were only 3 months old and not able to understand why this had happened. I pray you forgive her one day. Mistakes were made and lessons were learned. It was all for the betterment of your well-being. Don’t worry, just because you got pregnant at 14 and 16, that didn’t make you a failure. There was just a little disappointment from your parents because they had other plans for you.
I love that you didn’t allow the disappointment to slow down or quit. You had two beautiful girls before 17, and you PERSEVERED! You showed up for yourself everyday. No matter who judged you for your choices, you stayed strong and excelled. All those scary moments where you were unsure about what to do next, you figured it out.
Remember, when you were learning how to ride a bike without training wheels for the first time. You were only four years old and so unafraid. Your dad was very determined to get you to learn that day. He had faith in you and knew you were capable. It just took some practice and a few falls. I love how every time you fell, you got right back up. You didn’t say “I hate this, I quit!” You cried a little, wiped your tears and tried again. That’s how life will be. Stay geared up! Fall and get back up and try again. In the words of Aaliyah, your favorite singer,” If at first you don’t succeed, dust yourself off and try again, try again”.
You are so courageous and have overcome many obstacles. You are a fearless being. It’s okay if you’re afraid of pigeons. You will overcome that as well. If you had to get into the boxing ring with one, you would WIN (LOL). That’s what you know to do best. I love your creativity and your brainpower to think outside the box. I love the caring side of you. You are always looking out for everyone. You’d give your last to please someone else. Be careful with who you give your last to, because the wrong person could take advantage. Everyone’s intentions aren’t as pure as yours. It’s one of your greatest superpowers to help others. I love the way your heart smiles when you make others happy. The joy it brings to you is so exceptional. The world needs more people like you. I love when you challenge yourself. Even when you’re feeling doubtful, you make an effort. You push yourself because it’s just naturally in you. You may be unaware of your potential at times. Don’t let that deter you from getting to where you are headed. You have a bright future waiting for your arrival.
Falling may seem like a bad thing right now but ironically, it will be your greatest success. It will teach you many lessons that will prepare you to be a better human to this world and a better mother to your girls when they are older. Trust and believe, your daughters will go through similar situations. The difference is, they will have you as a mother. They will be confident to come to you and ask for help. They won’t be afraid to be themselves because their mother won’t judge them. They will learn from your story and be abe to create their own, so when they are ready to pass down advice and knowledge to their future children, you will always be the first person they think of. Never forget where you have come from, tell your mother you love her and you appreciate all that she has done. After all, none of this would have been possible without her. She is so proud of you and you should be proud of yourself as well.
Bernadette, what a beautiful letter. I know that you went through SO much and it must have been so difficult to deal with these things. everything you have endured is only building you up for experiences you might have in your future. Your daughters will be so lucky to have a mother who is knowledgeable and relatable like you. You are only getting…read more
How are you so care free?
What do you mean? I’m just living.
Huh, such a simple mindset that you have.
Well yea, where is the need to complicate things?
I…I guess you’re right, I’ve just forgotten how to ride the wave over the years.
It looks like you’ve gotten serious with the things that you should be playing with.
I love your free spirit and miss your going with the flow attitude. I wish I was able to get back to that again!
Wow… they sure did some work on us huh?
What do you mean?
You’ve lost your light being concerned with society. You’ve tired to control your life so much that you’ve suffocated yourself. I am not gone but you are killing me. So, if you want to be what you used to be, you got to let go and let me breathe.
Jesus, this is such an inspiring poem. It is perfectly normal to wish we still had some traits of our younger self. If you truly want to transform yourself into having a carefree, go-with-the-flow mindset, then it will all be figured out in a process. The reality of change is that it doesn’t happen overnight. Even thought it takes time, you will…read more
love photos of
black bodies
dancing across screens
taken with stolen apertures
it’s a silly game me and the plane
play
back n forth
my skin not yet shiny enough
not yet translucent
theirs blasting with luminosity
wanna kiss the boy in that
picture
tell him he’s okay
don’t need to be no shiny dancer
but then again
who’s gonna kiss the little girl in
me
and tell her she’s alright
i’m scared they will drown her
in tales of african hymnals
from the mouth of an ivory individual
or maybe of lessons learned
through the guise of a
forgetful father or
intentional deceiver
either way lessons
engraved in the pretty
skull all the way
Olive, your writing is so creative. The pressure that you had put on yourself at such a young age must have been so difficult to cope with. I am so proud of you for working through that and understanding that none of it was truly your fault. Realizing this and overcoming it has made you a stronger person!! ♥
Do you remember how
we play in places like this-
rocky, tumultuous, blank?
How we take this stone hollow,
and make it hallowed with treasure:
A smooth pebble.
The feather Mom said would make us sick.
This perfect, crooked stick.
Let me tuck you in to this place
just for us, guarded by
a thicket of brambles.
Did you know fruit grows here,
like magic in the thorns?
Sometimes juicy, sometimes sharp,
always a gift.
Do all grown ups grow into caves?
Do you keep here empty on purpose,
so that little treasures can keep a home?
So sweet things can live inside?
Maura, I love this!! Childhood memories are so important and valuable. I am happy that you made some good ones that you can keep with you and look back on throughout your life. Such an interesting perspective!
Thank you! My childhood wasn’t the best so a lot of my perspective on an inner child comes from a place of healing and wanting to keep that part of me safe, which I tried to honor here. I’m glad you like it!
Fluidity! I am scattered and I am dispersing. I have always been my five year old self; engulfed in (!), fixated on (!), and deeply treasuring (!) the new curiosities to be gained from our bedroom television. And she had always been me; a gender abomination, and a scientist studying its unexpected amalgamations: the bane of binary—oh, she thrives in contradiction! I know all of time exists already, for the way I am, will exist inside of my older self (as the way I was, lives within me). She finds neglected pockets in my memory to store her valued collections of information, and I repurpose her research to rebuild her residence. I love her so, just as I will love them (me).
Pajolo, I love this!! You are you, don’t let people change you because they are insecure about themselves!! All the memories that you made as a child will be with you forever, no matter who you turn out to be. Whether the memories are good or bad, they are there, permanently. There is not point in regretting our past, because there is nothing we…read more
Oh sweet little me,
I see you.
Thank you for your strength.
Don’t worry; we still see the world just as brightly,
I made sure to try my hardest.
We still love just as loudly,
but we’ve gained perspective.
We are still just as creative and just as inspired,
but with that came knowledge.
The knowledge to know that they loved you
as hard as they could,
as hard as they knew,
but just because
it wasn’t as loud as you
doesn’t mean it wasn’t love.
The knowledge to know that
not everybody has your best intentions,
even when they tell you
that their intentions are best.
You stayed strong
and understanding.
I wish I could tell you better but,
all I can say is,
they tried.
I know they did their best
and even though
I’m finally living my childhood
at twenty-six,
I know that everything
I have
is because of you.
I love that you grew up for us,
I’m just sorry I couldn’t give you the
memories
that I have now.
Then maybe you could understand
everything going on around you.
Thank you for your sacrifice.
I put you through hell
because
I knew
there was light at the end of the tunnel.
I’m sorry you were the lamb for slaughter.
My sacrifice hurt you.
My sacrifice tore you to shreds.
My sacrifice gave you the scars you resent
and put hate in your heart.
I hurt you.
I’m sorry I’m selfish
I’m sorry that you went hungry
for love and joy.
Thank you for taking care of us.
You raised us just right.
Thank you for your sacrifice.
The sun shines just as bright.
Emilee, this is SO beautiful. I love the way that you wrote this. Even though you went through a lot, you always remembered where you came from and how you started your journey through life. The people around you love you so much and you have always meant so much to them. You are an amazing person and I am so proud of how far you have come! ♥
I miss you. I wonder if you know the depth of my love for you. I wonder if you know you are always enough. I remember you, truly, for who you are.
We have days when we feel like we won’t make it. Please know the lies that tell you you aren’t worth it are not true. That’s depression speaking, not you. And by the way… we make it! And you excel in a way that is only for you. It isn’t always perfect, but it is beautiful and just right for you.
You see yourself as a wallflower now, but boy, have you bloomed. Your life has become a garden that flourishes in any room. The seed within you continuously blossoms to new heights. It is vibrant with color, flavor, and curiosity, starting from within but forever reaching out.
God created you to be merciful and kind.
I bet you won’t believe me, but we love ourself now. Things still get hard, and you still may not always feel pretty enough, athletic enough, or bubbly enough. But both God and I know that you are more than enough. You are and always have been the apple of His eye. Fearfully and wonderfully made is what you are.
Those quirks you think bring shame have paved the way.
Baby, you are one of the Lord’s blessings to this world. You don’t realize it, but you save lives.
Remember when we learn about the power of the tongue? I hate that we tore down, but we forgive ourself now. Mistakes are something you hate, but you take them as opportunities to grow. For that, I’m proud of you. While you still make a few, you also give hope.
I just pray that you see the good qualities in you as well. You love and change lives, however large or small.
You may not be remembered as the girl with the most perfect curve or smile, but generosity, creativity, and spunk are just fine. I know you still ruminate over insults, but the power of forgiveness truly heals. Every word someone says does not define you.
No, you aren’t remembered by what you wear, stellar grades, or the way your hips sway when you walk. They remember you now as the girl who is sweet and kind and that is more than fine.
Do you remember the school assembly? Yeah, that one. The one where you did not expect to be honored. I know you didn’t care about the applause and standing ovation then, but what you did is worth mentioning. I’m proud of you, Ashley, both then and now.
You stood with anxieties shivering down your spine as you picked the skin of your thumb, waiting for it to be over. The last thing you ever want is to be noticed.
Do you remember the count? 1, 2, 3, 4… we still count to calm our mind from spiraling and tangling like vines. You don’t know why you fight your mind until now. We fight silent battles of anxiety, depression, and even OCD.
I’m sorry that you didn’t know or get help back then, but I’m so proud of you for trying and never giving in.
You always stand up for others. I admire that about you. However, I hope you are proud of me too because I’m a bit older now and I stand up for you.
I know you want to be known for academic success, but there is so much more to life than that. It pains me to know that you think you don’t shine, but you’re wrong about that. I forgive you for that.
You love and care ferociously. I love you dearly for that. You see the little things that many don’t notice there is a purpose in that.
Do you remember when your teacher told you that you were just a little different and may not always fit in? I’m so proud of you for staying true to yourself despite the pressure from the crowd. You encourage me to be brave like you every day that I live.
You don’t know it now, but it’s okay to be different. The differences in you pave the way for others to fit in.
I know you don’t see it yet, but the seeds of love you sow into others contribute to a heavenly garden, and best of all, it allows others to witness the love of your Father.
Before I say see you later, I want you to know we are proud of you. And He STILL delights in you.
YES, Ashley, I love this!! Staying true to yourself despite receiving criticism from others can be so challenging but I am so proud of you for overcoming that and growing into the amazing person you are today! Your silent battles do not go unnoticed and there are always people here for you if you ever need help dealing with these struggles. Amazing work!!
Aww, Alexis, this is so sweet. I love that you look back on your past self to keep you motivated for your future. You CAN survive anything! You are so powerful and inspiring. Do it all for little Alexis! She’d be so proud of who she has become ♥♥.
It’s really the little things that mean the most to me. I’m honored to be someone so powerful and inspiring to you. I wasn’t even expecting anything when I wrote my poem, but your comment means everything to me. You actually made my day when I saw your comment. Thank you for believing in me!
Alexis, that’s so sweet of you to say! I am so happy that I helped encourage you, even if it was just a little bit!! I’m always here to talk if you need it! I’m happy to believe in you, no matter what!! ♥
Since others won’t, I’ll tell you what I love most about you. I love your kind soul, your gentle demeanor and your willingness to see past anyone’s flaws and still love them with your whole self. Don’t ever lose that. Even though, in this lifetime, you will experience pain that no one should have to, I love how you pick up and turn it into determination to move forward. I love your imagination, the way you play, the things you come up with to make your Barbie dolls say. You know some kind of maturity that most of your peers won’t know for many, many years. Let that guide you far ahead in life, sweet girl. I love that even though you don’t always feel so great about yourself, you never hesitate to tell others how great they are, how beautiful they are inside and out. That soul of yours is golden, my girl. Don’t torment yourself with the what-ifs and the unsaid. I love how much you love things! I love that when you find something you enjoy, you throw yourself into it fully and completely, no matter what others think of it. There’s not a twinge of shyness about it, no shame, only a sincere desire to enjoy things for you and only you. You also enjoy encouraging others to do the same, which I think is so important. I love all the good in you, little blue. I love your slightly over-bitten smile from a little too long an affair with your pacifier. Which brings me to your stubbornness. Many people would see how you stand your ground as a bad thing, labeling you a brat. For me, I love that you don’t let people walk all over you. I love that you scream and shout your beliefs and stand up for what you believe in, even if it’s not the most popular thing among the people in your life. I love the way you love, your tight hugs and lingering to-the-cheek kisses. You hold on extra tight because you always want to be sure that person knows just how much you love them while we’re all still on earthside. So run, my dear, spin in circles in the front yard until your light-up Skechers are the only things shining brighter than the stars. Hug Daddy tight and kiss him good night. Snuggle under your favorite princess blanket and shut your eyes, only having the sweetest dreams play behind them. You’ve got a strong head on your shoulders, baby. Never give up. I love you always.
Aww, Corrine. This is so adorable. Your younger self would be so happy to know that she grew up to be an amazing person who still loves unconditionally and truly. I love that you acknowledged your maturity at such a young age. Even though you went through things that some other kids didn’t, you used it to grow yourself as a person and didn’t let…read more
Little bird,
I like your hair.
Little bird,
I like your smile.
Little bird,
I like your singing.
Little bird,
I like your mind.
Little bird,
I like your jokes.
Little bird,
I know you would prefer if I loved these things about you, and on some level, I do.
But there’s a quality that I love the most.
I’ll give you a hint.
Mom says you need to change it,
And others make fun of you for it.
No, it’s not your weight.
No, it’s not the way you talk.
No, it’s not your curly hair.
Little bird, it’s your heart.
It’s so big and ready to share with anyone who needs it.
I know it’s hard now because you get hurt very easily, but little bird, your heart is special. It’s your heart that made me who I am today, not your hair.
It’s your heart that tells me what to do, not your mind.
It’s your heart that makes me try to do better, not your singing or your jokes.
It’s your heart that gives to others still, not your smile but it helps.
Everything I listed is a byproduct of your heart. They are the things that make you who you are, and the things that we are not.
So don’t worry about what people like
Because I love the way you love the world and everybody in it.
Aww, Shirley. I loved this letter! I am so sorry that people criticized you for those things. People can be cruel and inconsiderate sometimes, but it was never your fault. Despite that, I adore that you persevered through those things and always saw the good in people. That is a rare and beautiful trait to have. I am so proud of you for always…read more
Come dragonslayer, sword in hand
The white billowing fields call
Verdant hills across azure land
Be prepared, do not fall.
The clouds are black here
The misery is deep
Love yourself,
You approach the soul’s keep.
The crimson lightning strikes the sky
The end of the world is nigh
The dragon lashes, the beast strikes
Swing your sword with all your might.
A rain falls suddenly, like chromatic sand
Volpant crystals, nezerinian gems, gazerbanian bjands.
Things are stranger in this distant land.
You’ve reached the other side, you’ve done it, you’ve won.
And yet little dragonslayer, your journey has just begun.
Jim, this is such a powerful poem. Your word choices are so creative and unique. Your younger self must have been so strong! Even though it can take time to build up courage and strength like you are describing, you did it and I could not be more proud of you for that. I enjoyed your poem. Keep up the great work. ♥
Oh little one,
If you only knew;
If you only knew the love that was out there for you;
If only you could see the beauty the world holds for you;
The beauty the was forged through these flames.
That your empathy and sensitivity would one day be celebrated instead of shamed;
That you will be admired for expressing for everything you were taught to suppress.
Oh little one,
If only you knew;
If you only knew I the magic you hold inside of you.
The divine protection that surrounds you.
That your capacity for love will be your greatest strength.
If only you knew the amount of people you will inspire along the dark and weary road;
That all of your dreams in life were true visions of God;
Oh sweet child,
If you only knew.
Wow, Jessica. What a beautiful poem. Little you sounds like she had so much love and passion in her and I hope that you still have that to this day. I am so proud of who you have become and I know that she would be too. Empathy and sensitivity are such unique qualities and I am glad you have always been so pure and joyful, giving your love to the…read more
I love the way you always held the hands of others. How you always stopped to help.
I love the kindness you held in your heart although you knew very little.
I love how overjoyed you get over the small things in life. As I still do to this day.
The sun, the moon, the stars, puppies, and my favorite cookies. We have always loved the same things. Thank you for not letting me forget.
I have carried you with me and kept you alive, for you know what true joy feels like.
I did it for you and you would have been so proud to know I am the woman you always needed.
I protect those I love with grace, fierceness, and understanding, the way you should have been loved.
Our daughter will grow up to know the feel of the wind on her face and her mama’s abundant kisses not the cold hand of man. Not the harsh screams and cold words of a mother.
My child will only know that home is her safe place filled with safe people. Thanks to you, you never once gave up. You are so strong and so brave.
In this new life, bruises, tears, and lies are replaced with baked goods, laughs, and stories around the campfire. Every time I look at the stars I think of you.
We made it. I have not forgotten where I came from, but we made it. We have our little cottage in the woods, just like Ms. Honey like we always wanted. We only go where we are celebrated and we celebrate others.
It has not been easy and we have journeyed far down many dark roads, sometimes alone. Sometimes we were fortunate to have others holding our hand.
To know great light means you have known great darkness. For you may rest now the darkness is over.
Thank you for holding my hand through my journey to becoming the woman I always needed. The woman I always wanted to be. A woman who loves life and herself. Thank you for always believing in me.
I remember you with joy and wonder. I still carry you with me as we enjoy the awe of this world. Our future is bright, shrouded in darkness no more.
Aww, Jessica, this is so cute. Even though you have been through a lot and have struggled along the journey of happiness, I am glad that you finally conquered these issues and have made yourself a better and more joyful life, never forgetting about how little you came to be. Amazing work, I enjoyed reading this ♥
Dear Baby Me,
I had the opportunity to sneak away from my 43 year old life long enough for me to put a bug in yo” ear about what’s to come.
DON’T BELIEVE ANYTHING THAT YOU SEE, LIFE ITSELF IS A FRAUD! Don’t try to save people, GET
THERAPY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE due to that torrid little childhood of yours. It is my request that this
information finds itself to you about 9 years old. That should be a pretty rough time as we lost your
mom when I was 8, a little bit before you turned nine.
It may not feel like it right now, but you’re gonna survive it. It’s gonna cost you a few things
developmentally-wise and has you walking a long and winding road in your emotional intelligence, but
eventually, you’re gonna get it together. Love will come and go, and you’ll be blessed enough to have
some luck at it, hear me loud when I say this however: IT IS NOT LIKE THE MOVIES, they lied to you.
God is gonna be your best bet, all the way around the bat.
You’re not gonna know a lot, but you will eventually figure out da most.
Avoid marriage until you are 100% sure that it’s what God wants you to do and avoid ALL sex outside of
the sanctity. This won’t make your marriage bulletproof, but it will keep you in God’s honor, and with marriage, everything with marriage is GOD-NEEDED!
Always see how the other side lives before you make any major decisions about settling on things.
Love your brother and your sister openly sooner. Accept them for who they are and all they’ve done and
encourage them to always want to go further. We’re gonna have a son, he’s wonderful. He’s a lot like
me, but he starts off a lot like you. Worship his existence from afar, and always keep him one step
underneath God, It’ll be the thing that he needs when he has to remember that you loved him the most
after God. Make sure that he knows that. AVOID dealing with hoes (men and women) in their thoughts
and their behavior, their viewpoints and thoughts will just bring me down. STRIVE, STRIVE, STRIVE!
Always remember to strive to be honest and acceptable to GOD. He’ll have you anyway with a repentant
heart, however, don’t make his job and your angel’s job so hard. Remember to trust the light to be the light and the dark to be dark. Always however remember that it takes the light to depend on the dark so it can be shown to light brighter.
Music never leaves our train, it’s a part of us. Money will come and go, you’ll be busy when you have it
and peaceful when it goes, you’ll always be expecting more, so get in a good financial place in your early
savings. God is the one, thing, entity, universe, Christ, Holy Spirit, Trinity that saved me, nothing more,
nothing less. God as the whole concept, never stop pursuing: Him, Knowledge, Truth, Peace, Joy,
Perpetuity. God isn’t the one that saves us by himself, he uses Jesus and your quest to be a more
enlightened version of you. Keep It Simple In Your Brain & Life, Not Your Furnishings, Spurge on quality
and consistency, make time your luxury, burb every burb, smell every lemon, and don’t forget to let
yourself be a kid again whenever an opportunity presents.
DON’T FORGET TO LOVE YOU, SO I CAN LOVE
ME. We’ll be together through eternity.
Sincerely ME
Growing up I was always the odd and different kid from top to bottom, from inside and out nothing about me was able to blend in. I can remember memories from as young as 6 on the playground and other little girls would say “Why do you sound like that?” I was a very soft-spoken kid who had medical issues that I was overcoming. With all of that being said plus growing up rural where it’s not many options to just up and change schools I had to develop grit and a sense of self very early. Sometimes I would cry kids didn’t want to be my friend I thought I was weird I was not! Every day before I even knew what affirmations were I would look at myself and find something to love about me I dived into myself and discovered all of my hidden talents. What I love about myself self as a child that I carry as my inner child today is that there is only one YOU. And you can either hate yourself or love yourself, I chose love. I choose peace and happiness every day and I will instill these same positive beliefs in my children. I love that I never judged other kids I carry that trait with me to this day I’m aware of the danger but I never judge a book by its cover because I know what that feels like firsthand. My inner child is a patient and gentle spirit who was and will always be there for the people she loves but most importantly herself. That’s what I love about my inner child, she is still alive after all we’ve been through.
Aww, Tia what a sweet message. I am so sorry that those kids told you that. I can imagine how hard that must have been for you to deal with and the strength you had to have to overcome it. I am so proud of you for staying true to yourself and always being such a loving and happy person. Never forget about little you! She will always be with you ♥
Please forgive me for taking so long to see you, feel you, and acknowledge you. There never has, and never will be, anything more important than our bond, our love.
Your perseverance has me in awe. You stood resolute in the face of countless situations no child should have to, moving through them in the best way you knew how. I am honored that your strength led to where I am now. Thank you for your bravery and resilience to continue forward, no matter what transpired.
Your love of learning and desire to help people have blossomed over the years, and I hope you’re proud of who we’ve become and the path we’re on, striving to amplify those traits. We’ve seen a lot and learned even more. I can’t wait to share this next phase of our journey with you, and that we can walk hand in hand into the ocean of possibilities together.
We’re going to love life more, play with abandon, and exist in our truth of being safe and protected by those who love us. This is going to be an adventure beyond our wildest imaginings.
I promise to never leave you on your own again, and to share this miraculous life with you like I never have before.
I love you infinitely, in this life and any others.
Thank you for walking this life with me, my sweet child.
YES, Phoenix. I love this! Perseverance is an amazing quality and I am so glad that it worked in your favor. It is so important to stay strong and have energy to get through tough times or else you will be down in the dumps forever! I love that you said you have learned so much. Truly, the best learning experiences are from mistakes. Making…read more