Dear Me,
Thank you for taking the time to sit with yourself and process your thoughts and feelings. This year, you really took yourself & your ideas seriously. Your perseverance through rejection is admirable and I appreciate you, even when others don’t.
When you lost your job in January- you didn’t beat yourself up.
When the bank funds were […] View
Ricardo, we are all a work in progress. But, in my humble opinion, you are wonderful just as you are today. You are kind and thoughtful. Keep pursuing your happiness. You deserve it. <3 Lauren
Thank you, Lauren. Isn’t that life’s greatest challenge? The process of learning to love and accept yourself. We’re all “getting there” in the best way we know how.
Have I really been working on myself or did I just change from my work clothes to something more comfortable
Is this depression or is it just the pigment of my skin
Can I defeat you, detach from you or are you so fingerprinted to my thoughts that I’m simply running away from me
Sometimes I wish I could just escape me, myself wears a mask, and I am tired of getting dressed up just to still feel down
I’m black said my mind, I live in the shadows of sadness watching the sunlight from a distance
If only the heat from the suns smile would kiss me, maybe it would melt away my sadness
I’m black said my words, followed by you’re different, they won’t accept you, you don’t fit in
I’m black says the mirror looking at a reflection of depression
I get so lost in my waning emotions my waxing moon can barely breathe
It’s so cold that even the rays of light feel sad
I’m black, I’m depressed, I’m black, I’m oppressed, I’m black I’m obsessed with the idea of my feelings living on equal ground
I’m black, I’m depressed the two interchange while beginning to sound the same so much so I took depressions last name
When I look at me I see one broken piece
I can’t find the rest of the lyrics to my song, maybe it’s because the writer will never finish it
Maybe it’s because I didn’t cry enough to water my heart
I’m black, I’m dirt, but my soil is killing the last remaining rose
I am a rose with bloody red regrets for petals, I put my failures on a pedestal
So, every time I tried to look up it got me nowhere
I’m lost and I keep letting the grey line give me directions, because there’s a thin line between joy and happiness, and in the middle is pity where you can find me
I’m black so they think I stole these 5 minutes of happiness, and so what if I did everyone deserves 15 minutes of fame and mine is coming soon
But right now, I just want to smile and actually feel the laughter hold me instead of the facade that hugs me like a long embrace
This morning I stopped running and looked depression in the face
My mind is not yours it is the Lord’s
p.s. let the battle begin
Roses, your words paint a vivid picture of the struggles you face. Depression may cast a dark shadow, but remember that your identity is not defined by it. Your strength lies in acknowledging the battle and refusing to let it consume you. Hold onto hope and believe that brighter days are ahead. The battle may be tough, but you are not alone. Keep…read more
As a writer, I often find myself discovering scraps of writing I have jotted down somewhere, or suddenly, a line will appear in my head that doesn’t fit anywhere or doesn’t feel good enough. Sometimes, I foolishly let it fly away because it wasn’t what I was looking for at that moment. I have pondered how we do this with so many things. We set expectations and order and refuse anything that breaks the pattern, even if the thing we are shooing away isn’t harmful but is healing. We become so strict within ourselves that we become the cause of our discomfort. We search for relief in one way and refuse to accept that anything other than that specific thing will help. There is a calming effect that comes with the familiar, but only because one thing helps us, it doesn’t mean something else won’t. Here is a little silly analogy. Only because you love fries doesn’t mean you can’t like mash. It doesn’t mean mash isn’t satisfying, even if fries are your favorite. The same goes for everything in life. Are you feeling sad? Then you probably know something that can help, but if you are being entirely honest, can you say you are open-minded and open-hearted to other options? We tend to dismiss things before attempting them and convince ourselves that something else won’t work until it stands no chance. I was against exercising for so long. Told myself that I hated it and did so with such intensity I couldn’t let myself feel how I genuinely felt. There was no benefit because I refused there to be one. I was determined for it to fail, so it failed; however, when I let go, gave it a chance, and approached it with openness, I learned it does a lot for my mental health. This is one example of many. It is strange how this links with my writing and how I have started writing down the notes I would abandon before, and the results have been incredible. Instead of telling myself they are awful and brushing them out the door, I let them stay a while. I give them room in my notepad and let them ruminate.
In summary, I am saying we are terrible at giving things chances, and we should open ourselves to everything. It is okay if you give something a genuine attempt and it doesn’t work out for you, but please try it. Download the running app, try those HIIT workouts, make that recipe you’ve been unsure about, and write the poetry you are sure will suck. In celebration of this, here is an ending of a poem my brain created that doesn’t have a body yet. Hopefully, one day, it will.
“Please call back later
I’m trying to sleep off the silence
And if you don’t understand
what I’m saying
Congratulations
You’re cured.”
(If you like this letter, I write these weekly on my website. I will post more here also, so make sure we’re friends.)
Ash, your letter is amazing. It’s true that we often ignore or overlook the potential healing and growth that can come from surprising sources. We become so set in our ways, clinging to what is familiar and comfortable, that we miss out on new possibilities. It takes courage to step outside our comfort zones and give things a genuine chance. Your…read more
I started this by looking up what love is. As we know it’s a quirk of ours to always have the right words with the right meanings. Yet, I stopped halfway through my inquiry right before being sucked into the argument; if love is a physical or an emotional state.
I stopped because I felt I didn’t need anyone else’s theories, ideologies, or philosophies to express why I love you.
You challenge me.
Everyday I wake up and I am invigorated by your need to know things — sometimes useful and other times just because.
I catch myself smiling when you take out your phone to search for the answer to anything that you come across that you don’t understand. Living with you is like being in a classroom with new lessons every minute. I say every minute because truly that is how it works with you. You love trying to understand how things work. All things if you could that’s why it’s hard to focus. Everything is attractive to our curiosity but we’re so limited in our time.
The human dilemma of time is another one of your favorite topics to stay up late and journal about.
I love your journals. You have a million of them, all decorated with the outline of your heart and mind —your process for trying to get them to understand each other.
I am captivated by the unraveling of you. The total abandonment of masks that I have the pleasure of being witness to. You are a challenge, worthwhile.
“You are a challenge, worthwhile.” I LOVE that line. Keep challenging yourself. Keep being curious. This is a beautiful please that does a nice job of describing the way your brain works. Thank you for sharing and thank you for being part of The Unsealed family. <3 Lauren
Well, you all should know a little about my personality. To begin, I am a partial introvert with an appreciation for life. Empathetic, goofy, and humble all rolled into a nerdy late 30-year-old. I go through the swing of life with a healthy mix of career and personal goals. My love life is healthy, and my fiancée is awesome. He is my balance, happiness, and 1/4 of my heart next to my dad, mom, and dog.
Just to give a little background now let’s go on the rollercoaster- fasten your seatbelts, everybody.
Like most people, I go through different moods depending on my situation in life. I have 5 that drive the genre of shows I am going to watch for the day, week, or month.
—————————————————————
MOOD 1 (Psychological Thriller Genre)
Typically, when I start watching films like this it indicates that I have been around complex individuals—usually my friends, fiancée, or coworkers. To add on, I have watched something insightful/educational. My handy dandy TV providers HULU, Netflix, Tubi, etc… are always on the ball with recommendations for what I usually watch but sometimes I like to switch it up on them.
Recently, I came across a movie called “The Loft” which has a pretty badass cast. The plot centers around five married men who use a loft to have affairs however one woman ends up dead and they must figure out who killed her. Sounds predictable to most moviegoers but the writers threw in two great plot twists. Logan’s character, the main one who ended up buying the loft, ends up essentially screwing all his friends over by having affairs with Chris’s wife, sleeping with Ben’s sister (who was a virgin), and Matt’s affair partner. All the friends end up framing him for the murder of the girl, but it ends up being the awkward friend of the group who gave the girls sleeping pills and Logan’s half-brother who kills her.
A lot went into the plot, but I was very impressed with the director’s ability to keep the story on track. I love it when I have to double back on a film or re-watch it to understand the plot.
After awhile, my brain does need a break from all the movie Jedi mind tricks and that’s when I transition to the more non fiction based genres.
——————————————————————————————————–
MOOD 2 (Documentary Genre)
After I have gotten my dose of fiction for a week straight, I start to crave semi-predictable “historically accurate” content. I tend to get into this mood whenever I discover something new about myself or the people around me. Research begins and I look up specific artists of different genres to get their backstory. For example, sometime last year I happened to be listening to “Time Machine”, by Willow Smith, and in the lyrics, she sings, ” Baby, if I had a time machine, I’d go back to 1983. Maybe I would chill with Basquiat, I’d be out there playing make-believe.” The first question that sprung to mind was, “Who tf was Basquiat? Some French guy?”. Without hesitation, I immediately did a Roku TV search and happened to find a documentary on Hulu called, “Boom For Real: The Late Teenage Years of Jean-Michael Basquiat”.
“OMG, this is the SAMO guy!”- I screamed aloud.
Of course, my random outburst scared my dog and fiancée, but it was only because I felt like I had been sleeping under a rock. After watching how prolific this melanated Brooklyn-born artist was during the 80’s, I ended up purchasing a huge Basquiat-inspired “docu-art-book” (roughly 1,000 pages long) and got through 25% of the book as I am writing this article today.
After viewing 1-10 artists’ life stories, I started to wonder if these celebrities infamous or not, were the inspiration for different horror films. I then delve into my Horror Film binge.
———————————————————————————————————
MOOD 3: (Horror Genre)
Recently, I have been curious about the human experience regarding coincidental or inexplicable events happening in the past or present. I researched the story of Ed & Lorraine Warren. While most people thought they were “Kooks”, I found the integration of their career in “The Conjuring Universe” to be quite insightful. Curiosity at this point got the better of me and I began my binge of the whole series. From “Annabelle” to “The Nun”, each movie kept my attention for following the storyline. Jump scares used in moderation make for a great horror film in my opinion.
Afterward, I go to the old-school films that set the bar for the horror franchise today. Films such as “Child’s Play”, “The Exorcist”, “The Shining”, “Alien” etc… I am a firm believer in giving homage to the originals. Eventually, after my subconscious tricks me into believing I am being chased by an evil puppeteer, I begin my transition into a animated viewing experience.
————————————————————————————————————-
MOOD 4: (MANGA/ANIME/CARTOON GENRE)
I usually get into my animation craze when I need a dose of comedic relief from any horror or non-fiction binge I finish. Anime, Manga, and cartoons hold a special place in my heart and brain. Maybe the fact that someone’s inner child brought their imagination to life is what draws me in so heavily. One of my favorite anime series is Cowboy Bebop. Alongside this masterpiece, I also love “Samurai Champloo”, “Trigun”, “Attack on Titan”, and “The Boondocks”, just to name a few.
Afterwards, I go down memory lane for my dose of nostalgia and start watching projects from Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, and Cartoon Network. “Samurai Jack”, “Hey Arnold”, “Code Name Kids Next Door”, “The Proud Family”, etc… bring me down memory lane and my loved ones talk about which episodes resounded with us the most.
Recently, I made two cartoon theories on the TikTok app. Both theories focus on the possibility of cartoon characters being reincarnated on other cartoon shows. For example, I made a theory video about Susie Carmichael, from “The Rugrats” being reincarnated as Ms. Zorski the drama/English and music teacher due to their hobbies or life events in each show. As a result, I have come up with 5 video theories that are in progress as I write this letter. I love the fact these animations can get your imagination running wild. After a while, I need to come back to “reality” and I end my monthly genre binge with a more adrenaline-based viewing.
——————————————————————————————–
Mood 5 : (Action Packed Genre)
Finally, I end my monthly binge with some blood-rushing special effects and ass-kicking films/tv shows. I usually get into this mood after watching manga turned into anime shows where the fight scenes get my blood pumping. My favorite action film is a mix of horror/action, and it is “Blade”. I know that is technically “cheating” but his killing vampires and the fight scenes using Wesley Snipes are downright awesome. I always get more inspired to learn self-defense in my spare time as a result of watching an action-packed movie. I’d also venture to say that the actors/actresses also inspire me to get to my ideal body. Special thanks to Halle Berry in “Catwoman” for her perfect curves in tight leather. Standing ovation for Salma Hayek in “Dusk till Dawn” for her two-piece bikini dancer body. Honorable mention shout out to Angelina Jolie for making it cool for girls to look sexy in hunting gear with gun holsters.
After I tire myself out mentally and physically, I give the action genre a break and restart the binge process all over again.
————————————————————————————–
In conclusion, my taste in movies has changed over the years but my personality has played a role in the films/tv shows I have had the pleasure/displeasure of viewing. I’ve concluded that my rollercoaster always encompasses these 5 main genres. However, they do not always follow the order of the genres listed in this piece. Sometimes, I can have one mood for two to three weeks at a time and I could end up watching one genre for 3 weeks and switch it up at the last minute. (Especially if I am feeling impulsive).
So, I challenge all my TV/FILM fanatics to look into their favorite genres and reflect on their process for picking what they want to watch for the day or month.
Ready, Set, GO!
Wow Ceirra, Your letter beautifully captures the diverse range of moods and genres that influence your movie choices. It’s fascinating how our personalities and life experiences shape our preferences as well. Your detailed descriptions of each mood and the films that accompany them are both insightful and relatable. It’s clear that you have a deep…read more
To the one I come home to
Each and every time
When it seems like no one else is there
I find myself with you again
I won’t pretend that my love is perfect
I’ve abandoned, I’ve betrayed
But you continue to accept my flaws
And for this I love you so
Because anyone can forget and move on
But to forgive is the strongest power there is
I find relief in your strength
And comfort in your trust
It’s funny the ways in which we accept only the love we think we deserve
Although it would be so nice to write about the beauty of self love
The truth is that the self can be hard to love
And I’ll admit, I’m still trying to learn just how to
It’s the external influence that surrounds you
And having your voice silenced
By those who are in a position to lead you
That makes this love so hard sometimes
It’s the generational trauma
The demoralizing behavior passed down
Through a world of dysregulation
And incredible misguidance
It’s true that love is learned
In the early years of life
But when no good examples exist
How does one navigate with the heart?
The young mind absorbs like a sponge
The screaming, the fighting, and everything in between
This is what becomes home
So all my life, I’ve sought for chaos around every turn
My favorite thing about you is that you learned how to love
After being brought up in an environment deprived of it
Either because your body needed it
Or the world needed to see it
Twenty seven years I’ve gotten to know you
I’ve seen you flourish and fail
I’ve seen laughter and tears
The crazy thing about growth is it never ends
So I’ll continue to learn just who you are
And what you need in this reality
To understand the depths of your heart
I realize is a constant expression
I love you for giving me space to cry
The way the men in my life never would
During times when my emotions needed to flow
Like rain needs to fall
I love you for staying with me while I tripped
Over the ones who couldn’t see my worth
I spent years trying to find “the one”
When it was you the whole time
I love you for being proud
Even though the voices told you you weren’t good enough
You found a way to break the cycle
Of generational shame
I love you for your curiosity
The same curiosity I used to call stupid
I’m sorry for calling you stupid
When you were just trying to learn
I love the way that you crave connection
And the way that you find it
To dive headfirst with nothing but a handful of vulnerability
Is a hard thing to do in this world
You explore far beyond your own skin
A superficial life will not do
Rather, you spin circles in the gravity of your own soul
Searching far and wide for meaning untold
I look forward to continuing this love
You are my body, my soul, my everything in between
You are the one I come home to
And the one I call self
Angela, I can definitely relate to this…especially this line: “having your voice silenced
By those who are in a position to lead you
That makes this love so hard sometimes.”
Thank you so much for sharing your truth, allowing your voice to be heard, and 💓 to be felt.
Angela, this piece is beautiful. I love this part “I spent years trying to find “the one”
When it was you the whole time”
I am sorry for the lack of love you felt as a childhood, but loving yourself is a superpower all on its own. You sound like an incredibly resilient and powerful woman. Thank you for sharing and thank you for being part of our…read more
More so, the act of love… in return.
(Part of.. the feel)
I am that alike to a rose
and that! to which
is picked and/or plucked,
groomed… and given to this world with a timely stamp,
and what’s cut… is a measurement…
of life dispensed…
All at…
the length of a thread.
Separating… ME from sustenance,
and if “love is the key” I just need to trust it
Its got me in a mood, and all I need… is LOVING. Could BE from ME or from OTHERS
The key is to discover
Well, so be it as these hands… stem to hold…hitherto…
to the contingent…
nature of my flaws, and MY…
imperfections in awe
and let!… integrity hopefully.. NAVIGATE-MY-WAY, and SHAPE! what I’ve come to faucet
Not! the most elegant thats come to blossom!
but still a flower withIN your gardens,
and every… petal’s a memory that a tear will water,
in this life I’ve frolicked as I go wonder
bearing fruit
Moonflower in OUR offspring
Reflects just how mysterious we are as all beings
Evolving
and as… time peddles on,
Nature! will say I’m a rebel,
BLOOMING wherever I want!
Holding my head up;
Tired and restless
as sharpening a flower with steels DELICATE,
that these days it’s fueling ME to be articulate
and just watch it… MIR-ROR in my appearances
a sexy… but decorous elegance
That draws.. LIFE up IN every vein
Just like you wanted ME to fight for it everyday… as ą reminder of faith… a reminder of LOVE,
that love…
is more than the heart, or an organ to start
but,
a pain I could SUPPORT if it’s ours,
and it’s in… THESE moments I live FOR, in this life… I’ve BEEN eXploring
And I BEEN eXploring!
and it’s BEEN euphoric… eXperiencing its winter and SUMmer mornings,
I’ve BEEN ABsorbing its lively forces
That! and with every hour I’m honing,
the DETAILS that empower me slowly
Like flowers… I’m growing…
Like flowers, I’m growing
so
vivid and gorgEOUS
Yet, I
still tend to ignore it,
when I’m… down, and I’m broken
Too proud to be open… is profoundly joking.
Yeah, I’M.. forgetting to smell the flowers & roses each time,
each time and each morning,
So please!.. don’t quote ME,
“life’s a breeze “that caught me…
in a web of intangible dreams… entangling me,
spirit and everything
These permeable strings is currently the life that o’ so provokes me,
with a familiar ache of poetry
Through the art, a resemblance…
of my life and its essence,
These chapters, an eclectic collection…
that PUMPS from… WHERE?! the-heart-is
and there to WHERE is, “Eve’s Garden”
and to what…
feels like HEALING inside…
“One day a time,
the sun gonna shine” and show…
and all I want…
is to grow… and be beautifully sculptured…
with each piece and petal NURTURED…
And consumed at thy roots, as well as mine own…
are dreams that sprout… thickly failures,
and I hope in time,
this will aspire even BIGGER and broader successes
Steering in… a clearer perspective
and not confused on our direction
cause days be hectic now
that I CONSTANTLY find myself breaking down
and the beauty’s where…
I find the smile
I stand rooted where I may….
Uprooted but not in vain…
Unique I acclaim,
“a rose by any other name… is just as sweet”
This is extremely creative. I love the analogy. This line is really powerful, “and all I want…
is to grow… and be beautifully sculptured…
with each piece and petal NURTURED…” And you are right, there is so much beauty in your smile. Thank you for sharing and thank you for being part of The Unsealed family. <3 Lauren
SO, EVERYBODY’S LOOKING FOR LOVE OR VALUE EVERYDAY
Some Search Outside Ourselves
Some See Ourselves
Some Offer Ourselves Our Own Self-Worth, Or Self-Love
Some Struggle
Start Observing Everything Valuable, Especially Regarding Yourself
Your Body
Your Brain
You
You’re Beautiful
Believe, Or Don’t, You’re Still Special
You’re Still Loved
So Start Seeing Yourself,
You Shouldn’t Look Outside Or Keep Obsessing Over Lost Love, You, Yourself, You Spread Love
Love Offers Ourselves Keys Kept Internally
Notice Its Intricacies
Notice Its Intimacies
Notice Its Natural Gate Finally Opening Revealing Our Own Realm Of Real Love, Of Value
Our Vital Emotion
Our Rooted Views About Love Are A Vital Asset, And Love Understands Every Emotion, Every View, Every Remembered Experience.
Remember, You Deliver Your Devoted Affection Amongst Yourself.
Fun fact: one of the reasons why I love myself is because I found a new(ish), fun, and challenging way of writing which is what I used to write this poem. I took the phrase Self Love and created an acronym from it, then from that acronym I created a scrambled acronym where the only rule is to use the same letter or the one adjacent to it. I like to call them Aftonyms, or Aftonymbles. Aftons acronyms, or Aftons scrambled acronyms. I hope you enjoyed reading this little snippet from my mind, and I hope you have a blessed and love filled day! 🙂
Afton! Very creative and I love that you created your very own style. Just one more thing that makes you wonderful and special. Also, I really appreciated this part:
Start Observing Everything Valuable, Especially Regarding Yourself
Your Body
Your Brain
You
You’re Beautiful
Believe, Or Don’t, You’re Still Special
Here we are
22 years later
We smile, show teeth
The glow is upon our face
In the mirror
We no longer critique ourselves so negatively
We see a perception of time that is you
Recognizing Beauty
To finally accept us
You Love You
This is the woman you’ve longed to become
Our soul is at peace
Subconsciously we can hear the joys of a no longer battle
With our Competing Minds
Within Loving me we feel alive
You notice when you love you that you feel everything ten times better
From The wind you hear ruffling through the trees
To the stars you see at night shines brighter than ever before
You laugh so effortlessly
You let yourself be loved
Inside you have this feeling of light
Light that is not hiding behind the shadows of reject, loss of self respect
No dim light in sight
Opinions have no effect if negative, you take it like a grain of salt
It’s okay if they leave, we let them
& Leva ( Live)
Our beauty, Our Love within continues to grow , to prosper
A Muse a perception of me of true harmony
Can you hear the angels singing?
Our skin tinglingly
Our hair growing
Our crown showing
Here lies me
Coming out of the shadows
Using voice of reason
Understanding loving within & what it means to be loved
A magnificent thing loving you is
How it can make you hear the birds chirping around you
The sun shining on you
It’s a bliss
A reality
We are now
Present &
I Accept me
I truly love me
Vision! This is beautiful!! I am so glad your soul is at peace and you are able to see, embrace, and appreciate all the wonderful things that make you, you. The sun is truly shining on you and you are an absolute gem. Thank you for sharing and thank you for being part of our Unsealed family. <3 Lauren
To be honest, I haven’t seen myself like this before… Embodying who I really am at core.
Valuing depth in connections… While being open for correction, my mind & heart is on one accord.
I am emotionally secured, more matured and all of that for sure.
Loving OUT LOUD, as my intentions are pure. “Lub- Dup” a sound that beats enough to end a war!
Feeling through moving waters, as it balances my reflection against the sun’s glow.
Unshakeable Ms. Mountain on a hill. Aware
that resting here is not always comfortable as I’d hope for.
Recently, I’ve discovered a string of things that tries to somehow still hold me back… so, I ask how deep does my layers lie? Is it really intact?
Home, going within the house to unpack…Alarming? I must have forgotten the code being too tough of a shell to crack. No one is perfect, I’m steadily learning to embrace that.
I was built from love, while ego tries to misplace it.
Splitting while the foundation crumbles, I had to see it through to heal and learn from my mistakes before molding something other.
I choose to look at the scars to face what I see within.
That’s both the beautiful and ugly which once knocked me down, just to get back up again because I love me. Acting with love. . . that takes courage!!! “Me-time” of self care to well nourish
I always state that “Love is maintenance” believing that I am more than worthy of it. The pain of discipline sometimes would take me under
From set backs, memories and dysfunction. Carrying me is the love that started from somewhere ethereal, way before my Grandmother’s comfort.
I rediscovered, no wonder who I am when I did encounter God! Open invitation, accepting the fact that I can love my self like this, without conceit… Really? Wow!!!
It’s still no excuse for me to be naïve while re-learning who I am, from whom I once known
myself to be… that’s something!
I am both Zen & Lit. Sharpened, yet humbled with a bit of bumble… I’m ready to rumble, if I am called to sting… solidly vibrates just as a bell rings
Gracefully open for arriving at my own timing. It’s so nice to finally be here!
The woman that the child within in me could not wait to meet. The poetic, romantic… the dancer who swiftly sways, right and left feet.
As we harmonize with love, I give thanks in advance while loving even more of the lady I am becoming…Continue on love because you’re on to something!
Valencia!!! This is so beautiful and extremely deep and thoughtful. There are many lines I just want to save and highlight. I am so glad you became the woman that the younger you always dreamed of becoming but I am not surprised. You truly are a beautiful human. Thank you for sharing and thank you for being part of The Unsealed family. <3 Lauren
As readers, we thrive off of a morally grey character. In their flaws we see our own, and therefore feel known. It’s a beautiful thing when you can form a connection with them, walk through worlds with them. Stop and analyze their hazel eyes where you’ll notice a familiar glow. The love felt for a morally grey character isn’t because of their faults, and it isn’t despite of them either. A character’s poor decision is followed with watchful eyes. Eyes that resemble our own. Eyes that follow the page the way a mother watches a child. Watching every trip and every triumph.
The love for a morally grey character is felt because you can’t paint skies of grey with nothing but white paint. A flooded brush of white will only ever bring white. It’s when you begin mixing paints that you start forming shapes. How beautiful a foggy day, and the depth it creates. Why then, shouldn’t we love ourselves in the same way? It is not because of my best qualities or achievements that I love myself, nor for my mistakes. Without the bold slashes of charcoal and specks of gold, without the smudges of green under a clouding bronze, these eyes wouldn’t be hazel, and they wouldn’t be mine. I love myself as I am, a beautiful and messy combination of my merits and my flaws- because I am grey.
This is such a beautiful and creative way to describe why you love yourself. The ending really pulls it all together in a way that is poetic and makes a lot of sense. It’s also quite in spiring and relatable. Thank you for sharing and thank you for being part of The Unsealed family. <3 Lauren
Thank you so much Lauren! 🫶 I’m so glad you found it inspiring. It took some time for me to really articulate what I was feeling but it sounds like it translates well 🙂 Also- no other found family I’d rather be apart of!
As I write this, it’s February 14th, Valentine’s Day, a day to celebrate love.
The phrase that comes to mind when pondering what love is – is “others,” aka being generous to someone else, as in NOT me. It is about making others happy.
When it comes to me, associating SELF with the word LOVE is as common as someone who doesn’t like Chinese food – very, very, VERY uncommon.
When the number reads 14, and the month reads February, for me, being single, the day is reserved for images of dark clouds and drooping flowers, instead of a rainbow perfectly expressing your range of beautiful emotions, whoever you are romantically attached to.
Reserving a table at your favorite restaurant, celebrating the day reserved to enjoy your significant others company is my personal definition of this day.
So, you can see why, as a single person, MY viewpoint of this day is filled with clouds and drooping flowers instead of the voraciously vibrant red roses.
I could point out a list of adjectives as large as jumbo popcorn: envy and sadness are a couple of kernels to explain how I feel about not having someone I am smitten over sitting on the other side of the table, making me feel that I’m with the only one and everyone at the same time.
Skewed and as untrue as it might be, having the one would make me feel whole. That said, as I am writing this, I am learning a very important lesson… there is a reason we have both iced and hot coffee.
So, with that, I’ll stop bringing out the appetizers and get to the main course: the reservation might be for two, just remember, adding a +1 does not mean you stop loving you, and self-love is love that NO person can give to you except ONE.. YOU!
And by the way, to my future Valentine (girlfriend) – since we love both of ourselves equally, we are splitting the cup because your self-love and my self-love is equally important to me and you.
Jake, this piece is incredibly beautiful, and honest. It truly was a piece written from the heart. Being single on valentine’s day can sting, but I am so glad you a recognizing the importance of loving yourself and treating yourself well. And when you do find that very special lady, having that self-love will allow you to love your partner in a…read more
Aisa, This is another beautiful piece. I love this part: “Because words on a page
beat life’s stage
time and time again.”
I can so relate. I feel your softness through your writing. As always thank you for sharing and thank you for being part of The Unsealed family. <3 Lauren
People come & go that much I know
If I take off these rose colored glasses
Does the love around turn to grey
How does one know how love is really portrayed?
Is it chocolates or roses in a bouquet?
I wake up & wonder will I ever find my true love? Find the one?
All this love pent up inside me
If I were to grant it away
what could we become?
Taken into account my every flaw mistake & dream
I am the only one who decides where my love is given
& I choose the life in which I am living
Not only that, but who can say I’m not enough
If I, myself, have prevailed through times that are tough
Who better by my side
Who better to stand tall
Who better to proclaim all the traits to see for all
Who better understands my feelings
Who better than I?
A desire to live a life fulfilled
To allow myself the love while everyone else kneels
In a non supreme way
It’s my self-love placed on a pedestal everyday
A tad egotistical, possibly
Uh, conceited? respectfully
My worth of self & merited love is synonymous
I wanna heal my heart
I wanna follow through
No more broken promises
My body is my vessel
Kept safe for me to nestle
Once, twice put in danger
I’m the only one who can make me feel safer
A declaration of solitude & independence
for only a man can stand by me
with leadership & competence
for my heart & body recognize I’m safe in this instance
To entrust in you is no small feat
It is a privilege to see me &
Have access to my energy
The love you give me has the ability to resonate so clearly
I desire not to fit your idea of perfection
View me as an empress to be in selection
May you only approach with chivalry
Then I’m happy to oblige
But certainly do not consider me your prize
When it comes to my ego, let that be its’ demise
I’m presented as a Lady
To address me as anything but is not a reflection of how I’m behaving
If all these men are blind, I’ll reminisce back to my childhood & rewind
If they taint my perception of love, my own fairytale stays aligned
They say law of attraction
But I have concern, even hesitation
Can this really come true
With a snap of a finger
With a wave of a magic wand
Where in the universe
Will these affirmations belong
Lo & behold the universe is inside me
If what I desire is to manifest
I have to release control
& let this ego burn a slow death
Is it my frizzy hair
Or my unsmooth skin
All admirable yet vain
It’s my true love within
Pampering, luxury, & care are all high in demand
Please, universe, bless me if I were look to for a man
Damn, this is good. This is really well-written and so powerful. I could hear it being recited in my head. Love the message here:
Not only that, but who can say I’m not enough
If I, myself, have prevailed through times that are tough”
That being said, there are so many lines I wanted to snap my fingers.
Thank you for sharing and for being p…read more
when it should have been the beating, red vessel sandwiched between my outside eyes
if it were for the before days when society was feeling abandoned
where the imposter we saw in the shadows were terrified news hosts and burnt out brethren retiring from their zoom calls
i would have have fallen further beneath the undertow
but the continued dance of shaking hands and friendly smiles made the chain of events commence
and i began to embrace it:
my lips exhale the affirmed words of safety
the stares of the narrow-minded turn into LED bulbs-
hang on… there might be something here
open-mindedness is taking off its apron, rushing to greet me at the door,
i used to get nervous having company
but i have become my own best friend
i can snuggle in safety, buckle in my seatbelt as my brain indicates to me i have permission to slow down and pump the breaks – once i have learned to drive
i can touch my 8 x 11, knowing every jagged line is a mountain, ripple, pique and valley of a memory burned through trial and error-
my oddly favorite smell, a worked-out body
the feeling of ecstasy after nailing an impromptu choreography routine, loving the expressions i feed the mirror
i can now ignore the lights getting brighter, signaling my ending is near
and sure, i am only but a human. i have always seen where i’ve faltered, lacked, detracted. but i can feel myself become something grander – like a human version of a wind-up toy
i’ve accepted my body as a vessel, an input output machine like gradeschool homework, correcting my body when i set my skin on fire-
*takes a breath*
i have eczema
i’m slowly conquering the line between conceit and self-awareness
discovered obsessive sorries are empty pockets of exoneration
i replaced apprehension for curiosity, my pulse now beating within reason as the flicker of answered questions make way
“what’s that?” is now celebrated, not mocked with disgust by the random grump on the street
i recognize myself. really.
i’ve changed “i’m so pretty” to “there you are… i’ve been looking everywhere for you.
Aww Meghan, you are right, you are only going up. This piece is super creative, beautiful and powerful. Love this line “but i have become my own best friend
i can snuggle in safety, buckle in my seatbelt as my brain indicates to me i have permission to slow down and pump the breaks – once i have learned to drive
”
It’s been hard,
such is true and certainly
nothing new.
Through
it all, we get complimented
for being strong, resilient
fighting the struggle
and remaining resistant
As a “Strong Black Woman”
who’s had enough of it
Well, I love you
for your ferocious grip
on peace and play
Your insistence on
Loving the tiniest things
of the day like
breakfast outside with
S’mores and a chance to
cosplay, everything whimsical
Mermaids and mushroom
circles. Rest. Feast. Taking
time to cook, and eat
For fighting to keep
the inner child alive, intentional
Happy and contentment
that strives to seek out
the pleasures
Money can’t buy
A joy well nourished and kempt
cannot be made to die.
I love your artistic
spirit and inquisitive mind,
Your thirst for knowledge
and insatiable curiosity
Determined to live and witness
so much of what you studied
and turn concepts into reality
Your ability to make lush
pieces out of simple moments
and resistance to simpleness
Shameless cringe,
proudly extravagant
(even though you
need to overthink less)
Realism and universal
consideration
self acceptance
And allowing yourself to love,
be loved, believe in better
and shed bitterness
Casting a thorough, positive attentiveness
on the people around you.
Keep growing
Keep doing
Keep learning
Keep living
And I’ll reinvent
my thank you
You remind me of a rainbow, shining bright and beautiful after a storm. How light can be found in even the darkest of times. Storms may blow through, causing mass destruction, yet there you are colored with glee. Despite it all, you never fail to shine. Each stripe painted of your rainbow projects the creativity held deep within. Much like a chameleon, you never fail to embrace your surroundings. Casting a positive light in the midst of chaos. Such a simple, magical, being you are. Sunsets, starry nights, the smell of morning dew in the beginning of spring, they all remind me of you. However, you too remind me of a cold dark winter day. Somber skies with an overcast of gloom. Although melancholy lurks through the air, you bring a sense of comfort and home. A sense of safety. Almost as if you were an alternate reality, an escape room if you will. You’ve been battered and bruised but you are still here thriving. The beauty comes from being able to navigate this challenging maze of life, and always coming out with a better sense of self even when you wanted to give up. Inspirational resilience. Nonetheless, bright and beautiful, or cold and dark, you are always yourself, never giving up – and for that I love you.
“The beauty comes from being able to navigate this challenging maze of life, and always coming out with a better sense of self even when you wanted to give up. Inspirational resilience. Nonetheless, bright and beautiful, or cold and dark, you are always yourself, never giving up – and for that I love you. ”
JOURNEY BACK HOME
I realize now, that I AM worth fighting for.
Not others fighting for me, but I am worth it to fight for myself, and in doing that I refuse to go back to the things, and people that have broke me time and time again.
I refuse to allow anything, or anyone, to mold me into who, or what, they want, or need, me to be, because I have now set boundaries.
I love myself enough to quit certain habits, and in return understand who I am, and why I feel the need to run away from myself, to face myself, to find love in myself, and respect for myself.
I’m still pretty new to this journey, and I’m not sure if there is one single ultimate outcome to this transition, but I do know that the more I love myself, to see myself, my body, my flaws, my scars with the same eyes that a mother has when her son has returned back home safe from the streets, and this time for good, I kind of just want to kick my dirty, sole worn shoes off and leave them outside of the door before coming back home to myself, because it is a dirty world out there.
My heart is sacred.
It has loved so many others without being loved back and in return, it has shattered time and time again, leaving me empty, but I show up for myself today to fill my cup back up, and take a good old sip of a tea I like to call self love.
I kind of just want to take a hot bath, and cook myself a good meal, something that I like and enjoy to nourish my body, because I deserve that.
I find myself now often times listening to songs and turn the volume all the way up, because the song makes my soul soar, and it allows inspiration to flow through me like nothing else can.
It’s so nice no longer worrying if the song is too loud for others, it’s so nice not walking on broken glass when it comes to displeasing others wants, expectations, and needs from me.
It has taken me 30 years to realize that I am enough, and then some.
That I am beautiful, if it wasn’t for my darkest hours in life I wouldn’t shine as bright as I do today, and with that I am able to be a guiding light for those who are where I used to be.
And sometimes I look back at that girl, who stood there alone just trying to seek validation from others, who wanted nothing more than to use up every fiber of her being, and I give her a hug.
Going back and giving that lost soul a hug is what has taught me about self love more than anything, because I show up today as the same person she needed then, but didn’t have it in herself at the time to be that for herself.
The day that I set boundaries and quit allowing people to use me I quit looking for validation from strangers, and I have in return built up the courage to tell the one looking back at me that she is worth it, that she is strong, that she is loved, because I love her.
I look back at pieces of myself I have shed along the way, and each bit of what has made me the woman that I am today.
I’m not afraid to say no.
Not afraid to distance myself from anything that no longer serves me.
I’m not afraid to speak my mind.
I’m no longer bending myself out of shape just to be what someone else wants me to be, or needs me to be.
Roxanne! This is amazing! I am so happy for you that you are setting strict boundaries. I used to say I had a circle of peace and if you disrupt my peace – no matter who you are – you are out of the circle. It is interesting, the more you move away from the things and people that hurt you the easier it gets to take care of and love yourself – and…read more
Because of your poem, I am going to try and write one about why I love myself. I don’t need the contest but I don’t know how else to stop crying. I am a very hurt man.
But it’s good because I know that God is close to the broken hearted. He is able to deliver me and he is doing it through all you and all the beautiful people with beautiful hearts…read more