Topic Leaders
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Anita Williams shared a letter in the
To my younger self group 1 months, 4 weeks agoDear Younger Anita,
Anita A WilliamsHey girl,
I wanted to take a moment to talk to you. First, let me tell you—it’s okay to not speak like everyone else. You don’t have to fit into anyone else’s mold. There are so many people just like you, navigating attention struggles, dealing with depression, and feeling different. You are not alone. And you are not defined by the wrong touch you experienced at a young age—that was not your fault.
You can be yourself, unapologetically. You are not ugly—you are beautiful. You are love. You don’t have to carry the weight of your mother’s trauma or live out your parents’ dreams. You deserve to live for you. There will be people who like you just as you are. That smile of yours? It’s radiant, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
It’s okay to learn differently, to move at your own pace. It’s okay to let go of the things and people that don’t serve you. Anita, it’s okay to live. It’s okay to live your life and forgive the past.
And Anita, about your dad—I know he was a protector and a provider, and you admired him for the way he took care of things. But you don’t need to look for men who remind you of him, especially the parts of him that don’t align with your heart. You don’t need a man who carries the same wildness or chaos. What fits your soul is peace, patience, and understanding.
Be patient, baby girl. Everything God has for you is coming. You don’t need to carry the world on your shoulders or save everyone around you. Focus on saving and loving yourself.
You’re worthy of every good thing this life has to offer. I love you, boo.
With love and belief in you,
Your Older Self
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bloom shared a letter in the
To my younger self group 2 months agoTo be young and brave
EMDear me,
You may be younger and think you are wiser but think again. Life will humble you quicker than quick sand. You are not mature or grown and life didn’t make you have thick skin, but rather it made you dull and hide pieces of yourself. It made it harder to try in finding who you were but deep down you already knew. You are young, vibrant, funny and full of life. You care too much and that is okay. You knew who you were and others hated seeing you shine. As you grew, your star got duller and duller but when it was the darkest, it still managed to brighten everything and everyone around them. When you were at your lowest the tides grew high but you always managed to swim to shore. You may be young now but you are brave. Don’t loose sight and always keep shinning because you are my north star. Love you deeply, always your older self.
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Aww Em, I am so glad you see that you are and always have been light for yourself and the world around you. Keep shining bright, and keep that brave and full-of-life energy going. It’s clearly at the core of who you are. Thank you for sharing and being part of The Unsealed family. <3 Lauren
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katoblue shared a letter in the
To my younger self group 2 months, 1 weeks agoTo the Fire Within
Stephanie ContrerasDear Younger Me,
I see you there, small but fierce, holding onto a fire that feels so much bigger than you. You may not understand it yet, but that fire is resilience, and it will carry you through all the storms. I know the world feels heavy—heavier than any child should have to bear. The adults around you have laid burdens on your shoulders that no one should have to carry, and in doing so, they’ve made you question your worth, your safety, your right to love and be loved. But you, even at your youngest and most vulnerable, held tightly to something powerful: a knowing, deep within, of who you are.
You’ve already started to see through the chaos around you, intuitively navigating the complicated tides of people’s emotions. That’s your gift, even though it may feel like a curse sometimes. Your ability to understand the hidden hurts of others, even when they cause you pain, is what makes you extraordinary. This emotional intelligence, this gift of seeing beyond the surface, is a strength that will serve you well, even when it feels like a weight. As you grow, you will learn to wield it not only to survive but to thrive, to find connection, and to build relationships that are real, meaningful, and nourishing.
Despite what you’ve been told, despite what others have tried to force upon you, there is a light within you that refuses to be dimmed. I know it’s hard to believe now, but this strength you carry will get you through the darkest nights. You will face so much more—moments that threaten to break you—but you will come out the other side each time, stronger and clearer about who you are. The things you face will not define you. What will define you is the choice you make, again and again, to rise.
To choose yourself over and over, to see your own worth when others don’t—this will be your salvation. You will learn that you are not what they said you were. You are not the sum of anyone else’s mistakes, fears, or limitations. You are the person who walks through the fire and emerges wiser, more compassionate, and steadfast. You are someone who knows herself deeply and profoundly, someone who can weather the storms and hold onto her truth.
Yes, you were born with an unusual clarity, a depth that few around you could recognize. And, my dear, you have cultivated that inner strength with each step, even as others tried to force you into boxes that could never hold the real you. Know that this journey of self-discovery, of claiming yourself in the face of so much adversity, is a path you walk not only for yourself but for others who will need to see that it’s possible.
As you go forward, you will find that your challenges become your armor and your guide. You’ll continue to grow, to heal, and to become even more deeply connected to the beautiful, resilient person you are. One day, you’ll look back and see that you transformed every hurt, every trial, into a source of strength, empathy, and courage. You will realize that you did not just survive; you became a light that shines all the brighter because of the darkness you endured.
Keep going, my brave, brilliant soul. You are loved, you are enough, and you are powerful beyond measure. You may not see it now, but one day you will look back in awe at all that you have overcome—and, more importantly, at all that you are.
With all the love in the world,
Your Future Self
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Stephanie, your story is a very heartfelt poem. As someone attempting to bring out my inner child, I couldn’t relate to your story any less because I have a child. I love the part where you mentioned not only surviving through what you’ve been through but thriving through the pain and turning that darkness into light. I am always looking for…read more
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Amia shared a letter in the
To my younger self group 5 months, 3 weeks agoLove Always
A.M.A.Dear Inner Child,
So few memories of you, the remnants tarnished with your father’s anger or your cousin’s unwanted touch. It is so difficult to remember who we once were. I know your young soul grew tired too quickly; yet here you are. Persevering. Eight years past your first wish for death- an eternal sleep that could finally satisfy your weary soul. How inspiring you are to have kept going- kept fighting for the joy you know is out there.
I know you are tired. I know you don’t want to fight anymore, and I am ecstatic to tell you that all your hard work has finally paid off. You have built a community that nourishes your soul. Even on the sad days and throughout the disappointing moments of life, you have a collective around you ready to wrap you in their arms and shower you with affection until your smile once again lights up the room. Because you do. You light up every room you walk into. Your energy is so bright and magnetic. You draw people in with your glee. You have created a welcoming, loving, joyful environment that you so desperately wanted growing up. You are the peace you so desperately sought. You are the warmth and love your growing soul craved.
I am so proud of the independent, resilient, loving young woman you have grown into. Thank you for not giving up. Thank you for holding on even if it wasn’t always for you. Thank you for giving yourself- for giving present me and future us- a chance at the happiness you dreamed of every night. If not for you- for the hope burning within you, we would not have this community. We would not be creating our own home. We would not be able to fall asleep in his arms, steal the covers in the morning, and come home to a kiss on the cheek and dinner on the table.
I know you are so sad that you had to fight so long and so hard for this unconditional love. I realize a part of you still wishes that you felt this love growing up. I know a part of you is still angry that you had to love yourself and drag yourself through the harsh hurdles of life because the parents who were supposed to be there to cushion the blows turned their backs on you, too busy with their petty bickering. I know a part of you is guilty of the anger you feel inside because you recognize the hurt inner child within them that was not as strong as you- not strong enough to cherish their happiness or love every part of themselves as I love you.
Most days you might not think so, but that is my favorite thing about you. No matter what feelings of disdain you may hold for another seemingly shitty person, you see their wounds. You see the inner child within throwing a tantrum and you know the pain they face whether they tell you or not. You are so emotionally intelligent. I understand you may be angry that you cannot be as cold-blooded and petty as your sisters, but you are the warmth that melts the icy exterior. You are the gentle helping hand that allows the angry inner children around you to open up and heal what they have bottled up and hidden away from themselves for so long. Without your emotional intelligence, without the unconditional love you have to offer, this world would be so much crueler. Why would you want to contribute to the pain when you can heal it? You may not have a green thumb or magical healing food, but you have a warm heart and listening ears. You have a way with words and with people that can open their eyes to new perspectives and happier endings. You are the guiding light in such a dark world. I could not be prouder to be anyone else but you.Love always,
Your Healing Self
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Dana N. shared a letter in the
To my younger self group 6 months, 1 weeks agoLove Yourself
Dana A NanniDearest Little One,
You were always full of wonder, asking questions with depth beyond your years. Why was I born a girl at this exact place in time in this exact spot on Earth? How does reincarnation work? Why do some people discriminate based on age, orientation, financial status, religion, and/or faith? Certainly love is the answer, knowing no bounds, waiting patiently for us if we only have the courage to look.
You always spoke your mind even if you didn’t know it was impolite according to societal norms or expectations. Even if you did, I know you would have been fearless and persistent in your self-expression. You have always been deeply spiritual and never questioned the beauty of your soul. Blessed with the freedom to find deity all around, you found your own moral compass that suited you as a dedicated truth seeker and lifelong learner. This has led you on a quest for growth that is never ending.
You’ve always been a dreamer, seeking solace in your books. But you also had your own creativity, always citing your imagination whenever someone questioned where you got those ideas from. You never lose sight of the value that comes with playing pretend. Keep dreaming of how the world can be a better place and never stop using that to craft your goals in life.
Your natural resilience pulled you through so many obstacles, even when you faltered in the darkest of times. But don’t worry little one, that’s waiting for you in your teens and beyond. Just know that I am waiting for you, and all will be well.
If only you could see us now, I have every confidence you would be as proud of us as I am of you. Nourishing you is what pulls me through and keeps me going. In seeking all the love and light and happiness you were robbed of in those formative years, I find that I am reclaiming the self-love that always came so naturally to you. Yes, I have no doubt that I have made you proud.
Love, Your Whole Self
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Sherry Noble shared a letter in the
To my younger self group 7 months, 1 weeks agoThis post is viewable by the Unsealed community only.
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Sara Kumar shared a letter in the
To my younger self group 7 months, 3 weeks agoTo My Twenty-Five Year Old Self and To Me Now
Sara KumarDear Sara,
I am now forty-two years old, and I’ve traveled. I went to the Vatican, and I saw the Sistine Chapel, and I thought of painting with words and maps.
I want you to know that this journey was difficult, and it’s not apparent here in the writing. You were not always happy awn this journey, and you cried, because you wanted to be married to someone who was not the right man.
“And now you are happy,” says Papa. “And now you’re at peace,” says Papa.
So read what you have written here, and believe that God was forming you even then. And you dedicated your trip to a saint who loved you and loved the theatre also, and who loved to help couples find their way.
And now, read this, what you have written awn July 8th, 2007. Here is an excerpt:
“Of all the Renaissance artists, I find Michaelangelo the most fascinating. He was not liked by his contemporaries (Leonardo da Vinci, Bramante, etc.), probably because he was better than everyone else. Mich. was primarily a sculptor. Probably the best the world has ever seen. His Statue of David in Florence and the Peter at the St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican are spectacular. So when Pope Julius II asked Bramante who should paint the Sistine Chapel, he replied “Mich,” for he knew Mich was not a painter, so he was setting him up to fail. Mich. proposed the Pope a series of panels depicting scenes in the book of Genesis. He hired 4 workers from outside Rome to help him. Later, he fired these helpers, because he discovered that he did indeed know how to paint. Mich’s masterpiece is so interesting because in it, you see the development of a painter. The first panels were too detailed, too small, not as stylized. Later panels are larger and you can see the mastery of the artform that Mich. obtained during this 4 year project.”
Do you think it is a masterpiece though?
Let’s go again with St. Valentine and ask this question in the etherBecause the detail may be beautiful now
And let’s not call anything a masterpiece, and that will be brave
Because here are temporary things, even the planets
They are God’s handiwork, and they are spectacular, yes
And now the scene with me is after the flood and the people are awn a rock, and some are not awn the rock, and thank God we are safe now.
I think I need to see St. Peter again, quite frankly, because it’s David awn my mind, but St. Peter would be lovely to see, and would you like to see Florence again with a dear friend who loves St. Valentine?
I’ll continue when I can, and know that so many times, you were rescued awn this trip, and so many times you acted bravely, and your backpack is still with you, and so are these words in your journal
Be well, and love well
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luckyjen13 shared a letter in the
To my younger self group 8 months agoThis post is viewable by the Unsealed community only.
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Chuckeia Parker-Dickson shared a letter in the
To my younger self group 8 months agoThis post is viewable by the Unsealed community only.
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Alexis Gavin shared a letter in the
To my younger self group 8 months, 3 weeks agoAlexis Gavin
LexileggoI know you stress,
Because I put you to the test.
I know you’re scared of the unknown,
But I’m here and I’m grown.
You’ll hurt yourself along the way,
But you’ll live to see a sober day.
Almost 33 now,
I know…we’re both asking how???
The pain is strong,
But come along!!!
You’re clinging to music,
That’s good. We’re going to use it!!!
Those artists will know your name,
I’m still working hard and we haven’t hit Fame.
Not yet, at least,
keep going. It’s no doubt you’re a beast.
Some call you Savage
you desire a life of lavish.
You’re not wrong… The mission is bigger than you think.
But come along and I’ll take you where we belong.
You’ll cry and ocean’s worth of tears,
I mean literally for years…
But don’t ever forget that song
We’ll take every shot you got
I don’t know it all,
but your phone they will call.
I’m trying to close some deals,
prepare us some meals.
To be eat like a queen
by your idols you will be seen.
We’re making a difference
Stay positive in your Deliverance
It’s time for me to go
I can’t wait to watch you grow
I love you the most
That I need you to know…
Breathe deep
Cuz your future I keep!!!
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Lexi Mae Edwards shared a letter in the
To my younger self group 9 months, 1 weeks agoHer
Lexi MaeHave I ever told you how proud I am?
Of each of the battles you have overcome
She thinks that her life is not up to par.
She’s a writer now
While her sport history is no more
Have I ever told you how proud I am?
Living with the mind battles
Due from the moments God throws her way:
She thinks that her life is not up to par.
Still waking up
Pushing past the hardships
have I ever told you how proud I am?
Have you seen how far you have grown
moments you thought would never surpass
She thinks that her life is not up to par.
If she only knew how great she’s doing
Which I think we’re finally within the place
Have I ever told you how proud I am?
She thinks that her life is not up to par.
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Timothy T. Willett shared a letter in the
To my younger self group 9 months, 2 weeks agoDear Timothy...
Hey, you, old man.
This is a letter to yourself and from yourself.
You know all those things you’ve done wrong,
Regardless of who’s fault, or who’s right or wrong.
But this is not of that my friend…
Yeah, it’s amazing.You can call yourself friend now, but you are! ♥
I know those things I put myself and others through.
I remember the dreams and aspirations.All the good things I had for you.
Looking back is confusing and God it just makes me cry.
But I’m gonna try to leave You out too.Because this is a letter to myself. To maybe find out why.
But God I can’t, I can’t look back Because it hurts too much…
I can’t go to the beach, I can’t go to school, I can’t go to church, Sitting bereaved, I feel a fool.
But Lord, I can’t do it, I cannot watch.
Cannot go to Toledo. Cannot go to Cleveland cannot go back to jail, God what am I believing?
Cannot run to West Virginia, cannot hospital trend…
All along.I hated myself, yet all the while was a good friend. ☺
I can’t even write.I’m sorry I can’t do this.
All along my life, it was my own mark I missed.
But that’s a good thing because i’m not in hell…
Only I could see my place where ever if I made, could never get bail.
I’m sorry, no can do.
God thank you for saving me from me.
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Aww Timothy everything you have been through has led you where you are today, and it’s exactly where you are supposed to be. You have a beautiful heart. Never forget that! Your past does not define your whole being. <3 Lauren
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Thank you so much Lauren, nobody has ever told me that before ♥
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Jake shared a letter in the
To my younger self group 10 months, 2 weeks agoTAGGING ALONG - Despite the scars
JakeDear You,
Never in a million years did I think I would be so connected with you, but at the same time disconnected.
The thought of ever thinking of you as a POSITIVE mainstay (I use mainstay literally), in my life is like finding a person who does not know what an iPhone is.
The bane of your existence on another person would literally freeze me.
I could not talk at the mere sight of seeing what felt like a drowning impact you had and sometimes still have, on the lives of innocent humans.
Prematurely punishing them with the ability to not talk!
This confinement… well, it just seems like the prison sentence of Jeffrey Deskovic, a man who spent 16 years innocently behind bars. A person who missed 16 years of freedom, family events, friends, and much, much more, for being wrongfully accused.
This powerful story can be read in the new book – “Unseal Your Superpowers: Letters To Inspire The Hero Within You” by Lauren Brill.
(See bottom for link to book).So much of my life with you I let myself die inside by not behaving as my authentic self.
I was in a stranglehold with you that even the Hulk would not be strong enough to combat your grasp.
Despite you letting go of that fiercely tight grip, I have the scars to show for it.
After years of healing, the scar’s are still there. All but so faint, no amount of scar cream can make it evaporate.
The pain of you will always be there, nagging me like a tag on the back of a shirt.
I realize that tag is not meant to be ripped off or even taken off as a whole, it’s there as a reminder that sometimes a tag or label will never die, but if you don’t like it you can always use tie dye.
Despite the tag or label still there, this time, I am going to exchange it for one that fits me! Only me — the authentic me! After all, no one can be me!
So, I thank you for the lessons you have taught me, cerebral palsy. Now, I’m going to live life authentically and OWN you, tag and all!
Love your once enemy and now friend,
Jake
Here Is the link to the story mentioned above, and much more.
We are currently donating a portion of our proceeds (10%) to two charities:
Lift Our Voices, which aims to transform the American workplace, making it safer and more equitable for everyone, and Team LeGrand, a fundraising arm of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation dedicated to supporting quality-of-life initiatives and treatments for spinal cord injuries.
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Vicki Lawana Trusselli shared a letter in the
To my younger self group 1 years ago"GO FOR THE GUSTO"
Vicki Lawana TrusselliA note to my younger self
Dear Ms. Vicki Lawana,
I realize you were raised with a double standard as the after affects of being born in 1949.
You were born on September 18, 1949. The most popular song of that year was “RAGTIME COWBOY JOE” By Jo Stafford. The most popular movie was “MISS GRANT TAKES RICHMOND” starring Lucille Ball and William Holden. A comedy about a secretary who unwittingly helps her boss run a betting parlor.
You have so much potential as a young woman. You were born with so many talents. However, you were told as a woman you had to buckle down take care of your man. You questioned that point of view by asking questions of all the family. You thought maybe you were born again, as you looked out your window counting the stars asking the universe why you were here in this house, with this family and now what? You hear a choir singing from far away, as though the angels answered your question.
You grew up learning to play the piano for hours, writing music, singing the blues. Your mom and grandma were your biggest fans.
But as time went on you were told you could not be a singer or none of the things you were interested in at that time. There were only four things a woman was allowed to do in 1949.
1. Secretary
2. Housewife, baby maker, home maker
3. Nurse
4. Retail clerk
Then when your dad tried to teach you mechanics, your mom told you, “Baby girl, ladies don’t work on cars.” So, you went inside the house crying tears of pain because your poppa was your hero. Your mom did not know any better. Your poppa told your mom. “Honey, there will be a time when ladies do work on cars. At least I wanted to teach her the basics.”
Your dad worked long hours except he never worked on a Sunday as that was his family time. Your poppa bought you all the latest rock n roll of the 60s and 70s. Music was the go-to for everything in your family.
You visited a nightclub when you were 15, jumping on stage singing “I’m Sorry” by Brenda Lee.
Of course, you were only 15 and your dad found you, pulled you off stage. Sometime after that you quit singing or playing the piano. That was devastating to you. You would sit in your room writing songs and lyrics listening to all the latest bands.
You grew up in a male patriarchal society. A woman could not buy a house or car without her husband. You marched in parades for equal rights for women and civil rights for people of color.
When the 70s arrived and the women’s movement had opened doors for women to go to college and not be codependent on their husbands. Your dad sent you to nursing school in 1969. You began college studying business management and journalism. You discovered you had a high IQ of 135. You remember back in 1967 you were told your IQ was 95 below average. You were being prepared to survive in a male patriarchal society where men were smart, and women were 2nd class citizens.
You rebelled against this, but still loved men and not always choosing the best characters.
I want to explain, Ms. Vicki, that you listened to everyone but yet kept going to college and aspiring to fulfill your dreams. You worked at the LA Times when you were 30. However, you were introduced to a dude by his brother that worked there. You married him, had two babies as you thought your time clock was running out. When you landed the job at The LA Times it was not about marriage or babies. So once again you lived your double standard. You were divorced in 1989.
Then you worked with a dude in the music and film industry whom you married.
You never really had to marry anyone or have children to fulfill your womanly desires.
I tell you as younger self, finish your degree, don’t marry because you think you must, work hard, play hard, study hard. It’s your life. Then one day you would meet the artist who respects you as a human being not a 2nd class citizen.
Write those stories, interview the same stars you interviewed with your man, but do these procedures as a woman, educated, strong and successful.
I tell my younger self, Ms. Vicki, you are unique, eccentric, artist. You don’t need a man to make you a whole person. The truth be told it’s the men who need a woman to make them feel like a man.
So as a young woman you can do anything your heart desires and use your own talents in your career not worried about your man. Your man will love you for your strong qualities not just a ragtime cowboy side kick, but as a partner in life, a friend, a lover.
GO FOR GUSTO, MS. VICKI!
The rock song of 2023 was “Angry” by The Rolling Stones. The best movie was “Love at First Sight” by Netflix. Have we changed in the last decades? Yes, there are many changes. We stream music and movies through the internet. Web no longer have to go to the theater or concerts to see stars.
There is a group of people in America today who want women to go back to 1949. Ms. Vicki, please work not to let this happen. If there was a time machine I would like to sit and talk to my younger self to tell you, do not marry just because it’s the trend. Do not have babies just because your internal clock is ticking. Study, work, play but do it on your own please.
Ms. Vicki, you love your kids and grands very much. Surly you know your kids and grands have so many choices as men or women. There’s a new future ahead. There’s a rainbow of colors spreading all over the land. The Earth turns in motion to the beat of eternity as learn to move forward for equality for all.
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Omg Vicki! This is amazing! I am going to include it in our newsletter today! I also have always felt pressure to follow social standards even though I wanted a career. And that inner conflict certainly has taken its toll on me, and my relationships. I love your advice to your younger self. So cool that you worked for the LA times. And how…read more
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Thank you Lauren. Yes it was very frustrating for me. I survived. i just hope we do not have to go back to those times again. Growing up in those times was confusing for me as a woman of many questions and not accepting the status quo if it did not seem practical or was too controlling.
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Lisa Ashman shared a letter in the
To my younger self group 1 years, 3 months agoThis post is viewable by the Unsealed community only.
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Jael shared a letter in the
To my younger self group 2 years, 4 months agoThis post is viewable by the Unsealed community only.
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Bianca shared a letter in the
To my younger self group 2 years, 5 months agoThis post is viewable by the Unsealed community only.
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iambrizei shared a letter in the
To my younger self group 2 years, 5 months agoThis post is viewable by the Unsealed community only.
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zaysmith1 shared a letter in the
To my younger self group 2 years, 6 months agoTo my younger self
Isaiah SmithTo my younger, I wish I could go back in time and live those childhood moments again. As I got older I realized that those moments cannot be done again, but at the end of the day I lived those moments and had a lot of fun and experienced a lot of things. If I could go back and name a time that I really enjoyed it would be going to the Browns training camps every summer with my uncle and cousins. Being able to watch the Browns practice in Berea was one of the best things that I have ever done when I was younger. As I got older, I started to cherish everything about my childhood and would never trade it for anything. Last but not least, to the younger me experience as much as you can and have fun.
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Sounds as if you have had a very good life. What do you do to help ensure your son will also have one? Have you thought about lengthening this and telling more specifics about those visits to the Browns? Do you make similar experiences happen for your son? What is your one regret in life and how are you moving forward to accept or change it?
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Love it, and you’re right, if only we can go back. The moment are like days, you can’t go back to that day, you wish you had done something else, or when a mishap happens, or an accident you may have been involved in, or a disease you were diagnosed with on said day. If you can only go back to that day and things were changed, those things never…read more
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I’m so glad that you reminded your inner child to not grow up so fast. It’s so hard to not do that these days. Life just kinda smacks us in the face and we all just keep trucking. Thank you for sharing.
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Jim shared a letter in the
To my younger self group 2 years, 7 months agoThis post is viewable by the Unsealed community only.
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