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  • Lauren Brill shared a letter in the Group logo of To the people we loveTo the people we love group 1 year ago

    To Those Who Doubt Themselves,

    To Those Who Doubt Themselves,

    Most people never discover how far their talents can take them.

    Instead, it is so easy to let doubt hold you back. It’s so easy to ponder if you are smart enough, good enough, or have the stamina to climb the mountain you see ahead. And, of course, it doesn’t make it any less daunting when you have naysayers – people who say you can’t do it. But what I want you to know and what my journey thus far has taught me is that you’re in control of your destiny.

    There are so many instances in life where I was scared to pursue a challenge. When I got accepted to an Ivy League school, I didn’t think I was smart enough to attend. When I decided to start a business, I didn’t know if I had the experience or resources to pull it off effectively. And when recently, I decided to start learning how to code websites, I honestly didn’t know if my brain could absorb a computer language.

    As I questioned my abilities in those circumstances, other people also doubted me. Here are just a few comments I heard from people:

    “You’re not as smart as the other kids who go to Columbia. You won’t do well there.”

    “Do you know how many people fail at starting a business? You’re wasting your time.”

    “How are you going to learn to code on your own? There are so many levels to it. You’ll never be able to be proficient in it.”

    Despite my doubts, and the doubts of others, I pursued each challenge anyway.

    I repeatedly told myself, almost like a religious mantra, “If someone else can do this, I can do it too. If someone else can do this, I can do it too.”

    I made the dean’s list every semester during my last two years at Columbia(I think). My very first post, when I started my business, went viral. And with computer code, I found a cheap course online, and I am enjoying learning to code. It’s actually coming to me pretty easily so far.

    So, don’t listen to any of your doubters. They are projecting their fears onto you. Always have confidence in yourself because right now, you have no idea what you can accomplish in your life. But I promise you, if you take a chance, if you have a little faith in yourself, and never give up, you just might be one of the lucky ones to find out.

    With Love,

    Someone just like you

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    • You’re are so right, If someone else can do it, so can you. Your brain ticks just as much. You can do anything in life you chooses. Focus on what exactly you want to do, then work at it and it will happen, as long as you have determination. And you’re right, never listen to Naysayers (doubters) they will stop you dead in your tracks. These are…read more

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    • I doubt myself constantly to the point where I contemplate whether I should do it or not. I always catch myself doing this but I’m starting to break that habit and make a change.

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  • Jim shared a letter in the Group logo of To the people we loveTo the people we love group 1 year, 1 month ago

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    Go Tribe/Guardians

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  • My New Love

    To My Dear Little One,
    I have waited for you for a long time. I pictured myself holding your little body and playing with you. I do so love my family and the thought of expanding my loving unit thrilled me to no end. After all I have 2 beautiful children that have always filled my life with so much joy. Adding a new person would only expand my world with new purpose and happiness.
    Then it finally happened. The day I was waiting for with baited breath. You finally arrived. That very first time I held you was so sweet. My heart soared. You were so perfect. Now you are getting bigger and every day your smile brightens my day. I love our face-time meetings. I am excited to see the changes that happen every day as you get bigger and bigger. You are an amazing baby.
    My love for you has added a new dimension to my every day life. You give me a moment of respite in my busy and sometimes stressful day. You are also so much fun to talk to in our baby talk love language. In addition, every day I try to think of a brand new love song to sing to my dear baby boy. My voice is terrible but you don’t seem to mind.
    Thank you dear sweet little love for bringing so much sunshine into my life. To you my dear baby boy, as my sweet grandma Lottie would say to me in Yiddish ” Gut Guzunt” and much “Simchas” in your life.
    Your Grandma,
    Shelley

    Shelley Brill

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    • Awwwww, this is too sweet and I love it. Reading your story reminds me of my first grandchild (Mattie). I even wrote a poem of her coming into my life called “I loved Youi from the Moment I saw You” and it went from there. She’s now 14yrs of age, but when she was smaller, we were together so much, she once mistaken me for her mother. My daughter…read more

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  • Have Confidence- You Can Do It!

    To people who are too hard on themselves.
    When I meet young people who have low self esteem or lack confidence it makes me sad. I was raised with a lot of love so I always felt special. But many people come from homes where there isn’t a lot of support. As a result there is no one to bolster them up when they fail. I wish I could be there for all the young people who need someone to tell them its ok to have setbacks. I would tell them they must keep trying because eventually they will succeed. And I will always be there to catch them if they fall.
    When I was a 7th grade teacher in New Jersey I had a student who was failing math. When I would meet with this young girl she told me she just couldn’t keep up with the class in this subject. She just felt getting a good grade would be impossible for her. She was sad and dejected. As a teacher, it was my job to bolster her up. So thats what I did. I gave her private tutoring sessions 2 times a week for several months. Slowly but surely her test scores went higher and higher. She started to feel more confident in her math skills. By the end of the year she had a B average in math. How very rewarding that moment was for both of us.
    I have learned so much by just journeying thru life all these many years. We all have our own personal strength that we can tap into when needed. I also believe we are not an emotional island. We must all reach out and seek support. If your heart is open you will find that there is love all around you. You just have to be willing to accept the miracle so appropriately put by Hilary Clinton.. It takes a village.

    Shelley

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    • Amen, it takes a village. I so love this. I also love that you were a teacher. This is one of the, if not the best job ever and you have to have a great attitude and love for children to do it. Teachers are not rewarded enough and it’s one job that’s needed more than any other. My daughter is a third grade teacher and I know she loves it.…read more

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      • such a great testimony of encouragement and faith! Teaching is one of the most rewarding as well as hard and underappreciated occupations. I commend you for your willingness to go the extra mile and inspire the next generation!

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  • To those who are hard on themselves

    To someone who is too hard on themselves,

    You must be so anxious and stressed. You never seem to be where you want to be in life. I know how you feel because I have felt this way, too. My older sibling was always smarter than me. As a child, he did better in school than me, and as an adult, he certainly makes more money than me. It is as though I have had this bar way above my head my whole life. And no matter how hard I work or how many times I try, I never seem to jump high enough to graze that bar with my fingertips. And yet, I never stop trying.

    Throughout my adult life, I have worked weekends and nights. I have lost sleep as thoughts of work ruminate in my head, and I have pulled all-nighters just because I have felt like I needed to get more done. All too often, I find myself exhausted, stressed, and frustrated. And I have come to realize that those emotions are not helpful. I started my company, The Unsealed, 3.5 years ago, and until this past weekend, I hadn’t taken one vacation.

    An opportunity to go to Disney World arose. And seriously, who can say no to Disney World? I attended shows, tried out new rides, and ate at new restaurants for three days. It was so much fun. I gave my mind a break – a moment to live in the present and enjoy the people in my life and the blessings surrounding me. I drove home on Sunday. Now, it’s Monday, and I feel refreshed and motivated. The weekend made me realize how important it is to come up for air sometimes.

    For so long, I put pressure on myself and never took my foot off the gas. But that’s not healthy or productive. So, if you’re like me and push yourself very hard, I hope you learn to be kind to yourself, take breaks, and live in the moment. When you take days off, don’t think about work or whatever you are pushing yourself to do. Give your mind and your soul time to refresh, recharge and recalibrate.

    Your ambition probably won’t ever go away. But what I have come to realize is that if you want to do your best in life, it’s vital that you feel your best.

    Don’t measure your success with someone else’s bar. Prioritize your health and your happiness. And always appreciate where you are, where you’ve been, and where you’re going.

    Lauren

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    • I love it, always appreciate where you are, where you’ve been and where you’re going, as well as who you are. “You are somebody”, and if everyone can feel this way about themselves, there will be much more love throughout our world. Everyone’s competing with each other. Trying to be better, to have better or more than the next. People need more…read more

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  • Sokolowski family letter

    Kris,

    I heard that your battle has become more challenging recently. That’s all I needed to hear to take the time to let you know that as part of your Unsealed family, we got your back Kris! This means as you and your family are in need of added strength I’d like to offer you even more prayers for your body to WIN THE FIGHT! More positive thoughts and vibes for you and everyone who supports you because they need it too. More blessings for the medical treatments provided to help defeat the opponent of your health.

    I’m thankful I was able to hear you tell your story in our Unsealed meeting. Just know that your message was heard loud and clear. I have since made changes in my own life to improve my health because I felt inspired to do so. As great as your meeting was it would be even better to hear you tell your story again of your incredible comeback! Keep fighting and we’ll fight with you!!!!

    Be blessed,

    Jamie Ellifritz
    Massillon, Ohio
    Member – The Unsealed – November 2020

    Jamie Ellifritz

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    • Beautiful, and I’m not sure what battle this person maybe fighting, but I know all too well about fighting. I fought cancer twice, and afterwards, I was diagnosed with diabetes, later Afib, then Kidney disease and other related illnesses like Lymphedema, chronic pain, as well as arthritis. So I continue to I’m still fight and probably will for the…read more

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  • Jim shared a letter in the Group logo of To the people we loveTo the people we love group 1 year, 1 month ago

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    Stay strong

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  • To my friend, Kris

    Dear Kris,

    Last year, I stumbled upon a CNN article entitled, “I have got terminal cancer. Here is why I am prioritizing travel.” The article shared how you were diagnosed at 48 years old with late stage four colon cancer. Despite the diagnosis, you remained committed to the activities that bring you joy in life, which include spending time with your family and traveling around the globe. I immediately knew I wanted to share your story with our community. I knew you would represent what The Unsealed is about: resilience, kindness, and strength. However, there was one result of meeting you I didn’t see coming..

    While The Unsealed is not nearly as well-known or as prominent as CNN, you immediately responded to me and happily agreed to share your story with me. You sat on zoom with me for more than an hour and shared with me the shock of discovering you had terminal cancer. You had this proud grin on your face as you told me how you captured your wife’s heart. And you told me about the abundance of joy you experience daily by being the father to your sweet, intelligent, curious young son, Braden. But more than just your story, how you approach life’s challenges clearly came across in our interview. And that is with boundless positivity and a pure heart. When you receive a cocktail of intense chemo, you do so with a cheerful disposition and kind words to share with the nurses and doctors who treat you. You don’t approach work or everyday life with a “Why me?” attitude, but instead, you see each day as a gift to enjoy with the people you love most. You are aware of the reality of your situation, but you do not let it take away from the people and places that make you smile, as you continue to travel the world and take walks on the beach with your wife and son.

    After interviewing you, we posted your story on The Unsealed in a letter to your wife and son. Then, you spoke to our community on one of our weekly zoom calls. Your zest for life and your pursuit of positivity are contagious. In the following months, I noticed I became more disciplined about staying optimistic about the challenges in my life. While starting a business is not nearly as difficult as battling cancer, it’s the obstacle I currently face. And because of you, instead of dwelling on what is going wrong, I started to look at what is going right and figure out how to lean into those tactics more. When a strategy I implement doesn’t go as planned, instead of feeling frustrated, I look for the lesson and adapt accordingly. When I interact with people, no matter how my day is unfolding, I always try to lead with kindness. The mindset you have helped shape within me has impacted my productivity, patience, and happiness. And as my company has grown, the process has become less stressful and more joyful.

    Kris, when I first came across your story, I knew you would inspire so many people, but what I didn’t know was how much you would influence me.

    Thank you.

    Keep fighting! Keep smiling! Keep being you!

    With love,

    Lauren

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    • Lauren, your heartfelt message to Kris is truly inspiring. Your meeting with Kris and his positivity in the face of terminal cancer has had a lasting impact on you. His resilience, kindness, and strength have motivated you to approach life’s challenges with boundless positivity and a pure heart. You have adopted a mindset of focusing on what is…read more

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  • Mahogany Roberts shared a letter in the Group logo of To the people we loveTo the people we love group 1 year, 1 month ago

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    Embrace

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  • BigStudBundy shared a letter in the Group logo of To the people we loveTo the people we love group 1 year, 1 month ago

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    What I learned from you Kris

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  • Jake shared a letter in the Group logo of To the people we loveTo the people we love group 1 year, 1 month ago

    Life’s a SAFARI

    Hi Kris,

    WOW, that piece/video brought me to tears!

    Obviously some were sad, BUT some were filled with GRATITUDE because of YOUR OUTLOOK in LIFE!

    Know that sometimes you see the “BIG 5” and sometimes you almost get RUN OVER by an ELEPHANT(Yes that actually almost happened!

    You are a GREAT TOUR GUIDE for your SON and WIFE in LIFE: CONTINUE being that GUIDE! I am CONFIDENT THIS ElAPHANT (Cancer will NOT RUN YOU OVER! And you can go back and take that AFRICA trip TOGETHER AND ENJOY MANY, MANY, MORE “BIG 5” MOMENTS!
    Your Dad: “YOU ARE YOU, YOUR GENUINE!

    Jake

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  • You Raise Me Up

    Dear Kris,
    I first heard about your story on CNN. It was a most touching story about your serious illness and your love of travel with your family. My daughter, Lauren was lucky enough to be able to reach you. She wanted to interview you for The Unsealed. You were so gracious with your time. I read your words that you expressed to Lauren. I was amazed by your love for your beautiful wife and sweet son and your resiliency.
    When you came on Lauren’s weekly zoom meeting I was so moved by your story. You talked about your serious illness, the chemotherapy treatments you had to endure but also about the love you have felt from your family during your journey. Thru your challenging treatments you were able to bring joy into your life by taking wonderful vacations with your family. You would not let your diagnosis stop you from enjoying life. You were able to tell us about your trips with a smile on your face. Your bravery and strength touched my heart.
    Kris, your strength gives me the motivation to stay positive in the light of my own personal challenges. I wish you lots and lots of pain free quality time with your family. May you always travel the world spreading sunshine to all you encounter. As for me, I hope to continue to bask in the light of your positivity for many years to come. Thank you for being the amazing person you are and sharing your uplifting, beaming heart.

    Love,
    Shelley

    Shelley Brill

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    • This is beautiful, and this is something I’ve stated over and over in my personal story, as well as just passing the message to others. I’m a two-time cancer survivor and anyone who has gone through such an ordeal knows how hard it is to deal with. The most hardest thing ever, but even with that, I feel that you should enjoy your life even more…read more

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  • Jim shared a letter in the Group logo of To the people we loveTo the people we love group 1 year, 2 months ago

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    Stay Strong

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  • BigStudBundy shared a letter in the Group logo of To the people we loveTo the people we love group 1 year, 2 months ago

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    Scarlet

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  • My charming boy George

    Dear George,

    You were meant to be a part of our family. After losing the dog that we had since I was in Kindergarten my mom claimed we weren’t getting another dog. But my dad convinced her to open her heart up again, and this time all roads lead to you….literally. You traveled from Georgia to Maine as a puppy. At the shelter, my parents observed how you interacted with a young girl, how you played with her, yet you were so gentle too. That’s the moment they fell in love with you and knew that they wanted to take you home. I can’t help but believe that our old dog, Lucky, had pulled some strings and guided us to you.

    At first when we took you home you were timid, but slowly your sweet, sensitive, silly personality began to show through. You quickly became my companion. Every errand, every ride, everywhere I went you were by my side. Your little wet nose on my face was the first thing I felt at 6am on Saturday morning as you demanded that I get up so that you could get your cuddles in and then go back to bed, and your solid body against my leg was the last thing I felt at night before I fell asleep.

    Life with you is filled with more laughter, love, and epic cuddle sessions. You give me a reason to get out of the bed in the morning. While you can’t talk, your actions communicate so much to me. Your cuddles communicate your unconditional love, your paw resting delicately on my lap and your solid body against my leg at night make me feel safe and secure. You greeting me at the door makes me feel welcome. You showing me your belly for the thousandth belly rub of the day helps me to know that you trust me. You putting your nose under my armpit or on my shoulder as if giving me a hug. You have me (and each member of our family) wrapped around your paw. We love you so much and are so grateful to have you as a part of our family.

    Love,

    Hannah G.

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    • Awww so sweet!! George is so lucky to have you and you are so lucky to have him! He sounds like he was meant to be :)! Dogs are the best!

      Lauren

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    • OMG, so beautiful. I don’t have a pet right now, but my grandkids does and each time I go to their house, he sits at the front door until I get out of the car. Once I get in, he begin running, because he wants me to run after him. We do it each time I come over, even before I can greet and visit my grandkids; but granny is getting too old to run…read more

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  • dannicatwhiskers shared a letter in the Group logo of To the people we loveTo the people we love group 1 year, 2 months ago

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    Dear Sister

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  • To my friend, Vernon

    Dear Vernon,

    The odds of us crossing paths were slim, but the domino effect of connecting with you was life-changing.

    When I tell people I know you, their first question is often, “How?” You played in the NFL while I was still in elementary school. You live in Texas. I have only visited the Lone Star state a few times. Our friendship came out of nowhere. It was 2017, and I was in bed randomly looking at LinkedIn when I saw a post about someone writing a letter to their younger self. I am unsure what made me read the story, but I clicked. The letter was so well-written and powerful. It was about your life story. You were the product of gang rape, and you shared your complicated relationship with your later mother. You mentioned something in that letter that you didn’t understand your mother’s reaction to her attack, but I could relate to her because I am also a survivor. So, I reached out to you to explain how my mind took time to process what had happened to me. I hoped that sharing my story would give you some clarity and peace.

    You responded to me almost immediately, and I think we chatted on the phone the same night. Then, the Super Bowl was in Houston that year, and I was headed down. We met in person, and you told me you were friends with Sheryl Sandberg, the then-COO of Facebook. She had recently written a book about people who persevere and mentioned you in the book. You introduced me to Sheryl, who asked me to share my story on her website publicly. I couldn’t say no to Sheryl, which led me to write an open letter to sexual assault survivors independently. My letter changed my life. Besides freeing me from years of shame and angst, it inspired me to move to Florida and start my company, The Unsealed. The Unsealed is a platform where people can write and share open letters about overcoming adversity.

    Through the years, we’ve remained friends, and you have shared your story on The Unsealed’s website and several of our weekly conversations with our community. You encourage me. You inspire me, and you believe in me.

    While I know we’ll always be friends, I still think it’s crazy we even met in the first place. I rarely read articles I see on LinkedIn, if ever. And it is even less often that I reach out to its author. I genuinely believe whether it was fate, or maybe your mom up there pulling strings, or one of my late loved ones, that night that I was lying in bed skimming LinkedIn, there was a larger power play – using your story and our newfound friendship – to lead me to my purpose.

    Forever grateful that the stars aligned,

    Lauren

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    • Lauren,the connection you shared with Vernon is truly life-changing. I’m happy for the power of fate and friendship you guys shared. It reminds me of the friendship we have together. Your strength inspires me every day. Thank you for believing in me and for being a part of my journey as well. I’m glad that you’re surrounded by people who motivate…read more

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  • Mary Pereira shared a letter in the Group logo of To the people we loveTo the people we love group 1 year, 2 months ago

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    Dear Sweet Honey

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  • Jim shared a letter in the Group logo of To the people we loveTo the people we love group 1 year, 2 months ago

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    Baby boy Tigger

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  • We love our dogs

    Dear Mia and Cayley,
    We brought you both into our lives for the same reason. We love adorable little puppies. You are both very small dogs so you very huggable. Dog daddy and I needed a little bundle of joy to shower love on and you both fulfilled that need. Mia you came first 17 years ago. As I write this letter you are laying beside me. Thats comforting. Cayley, we brought you into our home 12 years ago. Right now you are with your Dad,Alan. You both bring us so much joy.
    My dear little baby dogs you are always with Daddy and I whenever we are home. Its the 4 of us in bed at night cuddling you both, making us humans feel safe and secure.
    Our 2 little dogs have brought so much joy into our lives. You both calm us down when we feel anxious and cheer us up when we are sad. You make us laugh when you do the adorable things you do. You are our best medicine for a good life. Mia and Cayley I cant Imagine life without you.

    Love,
    Mommy and Daddy ❤️

    Shelley and Alan

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    • Awwwwww, so sweet and I know some of how you feel. I love dogs so much, even after being bitten by one years ago, I still love them. I don’t own one right now, but that’s OK, I still have access to one, my grandkids dog, they call him Winter, because he loves when it’s cold out, love to lie in front of a fan or on a cold floor. He’s part of a…read more

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