In a world of doubts, like a Rubik’s cube,
Some wanted to peel off labels, misconstrue.
But within me, colors danced bright,
A puzzle unique, a mesmerizing sight.
Therapists spoke of limits, an unkind fate,
But my parents, they didn’t hesitate.
They knew the stickers, they wouldn’t be torn,
Their love, like glue, strong and reborn.
Sheesh! Rebecca, this is insanely good! I love this. So inspiring and empowering. You and only you know your limits, and you’ve clearly proved you have none. Your writing is really good. Just curious, what are your dreams/career ambitions?
My mother is an amazing writer and I take after her in that aspect she is absolutely amazing and doubt her writing and I would love if she published her things too.
Over the past two years, on the first of every month, I’ve made it a habit to carry 10+ envelopes in my purse. Each envelope stuffed with prayers and a gift card, intended for random single mothers I encounter while running errands or out on the town. These prayers are meant to provide them with encouragement and hope, assuring…read more
Tonight was phenomenal! Thanks again for sharing your story. Inspired me so much I just submitted a writing piece of my own. You are doing a great thing and none of it was in vain! I pray that I will have the same success story to share of overcoming and being able to also encourage, inspire, and empower others. You may enjoy the writing piece I…read more
Dear Madison,
As you know, television news is an intense business. Murders, fires, funerals, anything you can shake a stick at… and those are the first 10 minutes of the newscast most nights.
However, there’s also a lot of negativity about how the news is presented. The heavy politicization of news can take its toll on any anchor person, no…read more
Aww Drew this is so sweet. Madison sounds like and sweet, talented and wonderful reporter. I am sure she will appreciate you writing such a beautiful for tribute to her. Never change, Drew. Your heart is so sweet. <3 Lauren
Oh, she did. Not long after I completed this letter, I sent it off to Madison’s email at her station (she had just finished her dayside shift after the 6 pm newscast. She loved every word of it.
I happened to see Madison again last week at the Press Club’s Annual Meeting. It was the first time I’d seen her since the letter. She hugged me. I thought she’d start bawling again.
It’s so crazy News Anchors are like superheroes if you think about it. Some news that they take is so hard to carry but they tend to deliver it in such a respectful way towards everyone. I don’t know how they can do it but I find it so cool That they could also say lines without making a mistake or improv.
In a profession where the workers are seemingly under attack by the general public on a daily basis due to a lack of trust and a perception of misinformation, Madison thrives.
Madison is lucky to have a friend like you. You recognize her talent and support and appreciate her. She sounds like a wonderful person and I’m sure this post is definitely something that would inspire her to keep going.
In a profession where the workers are seemingly under attack by the general public on a daily basis due to a lack of trust and a perception of misinformation, Madison thrives.
My name is Victoria and I want to first start out by appreciating your strength. I’m a 25-year-old digital creator, blogger, and mental health advocate from Texas! I never really claimed to be an “advocate” because I have no diagnosed illnesses. However, we all have mental health- and I’ve come to realize that it shouldn’t have to…read more
I didn’t know Twitch at all to be honest. I stay in touch with current pop culture as much as possible. I’ve learned as much as people say you get older and out of touch. I say no you get busier and have different priorities or other things absorbing your attention. So I didn’t know the impact he had on others but respect that he maximized the g…read more
Thank you so much for these touching words Jamie. Writing this letter makes me think of Cheslie Kryst, the former Miss USA who also died by suicide. She had my dream career and I’d have loved to be in her position, but some of us are carrying invisible weights. I wish I could do more than write a letter to be honest but I hope she reads this one…read more
Hello Victoria,
I just would like to say, you are so kind to write this. Allison may come across it or not, but regardless you really have impacted other people that read this that struggle with mental illness or know someone who struggles. Hearing about the suicide did affect me greatly, considering I have watched tWITCH on television for years…read more
I used to watch Twitch when I was younger on Step Up and on Ellen. To find out that he passed was shocking and to also see that it was from mental health really through me off because he looked so healthy and happy. I then was like well I didn’t know him I only knew what he showed the world. But Allison his wife knew him better than us all. I feel…read more
Yes Kayjah- definitely! Did you get a chance to watch Allison’s interview on the Today show with Hoda? I’m glad she’s speaking up- I’m sure she’s still hurting so it must be very difficult but I’m glad to see her still standing. Sorry for the delayed reply!
This was a sad story all the way around. I of course didn’t know him personally, but I’ve watched him for years and have always noticed how he smiled everywhere in everything he did. He was such a talented dancer and he will be certainly missed. I pray for his wife and family.
Yes of course. Those are the scariest kinds of people- sounds strange! Like when Anthony Bourdain passed…I couldn’t believe it. Now I realize that anyone can be on the edge so to speak and it’s nearly impossible to figure out until something drastic happens. I’m truly sorry for Twitch’s family- he was a good man, just dealing with some heavy…read more
Thank you, and that is so true. It’s good to smile at times, but when a person seem to smile all the time, to me that’s not normal, because everything isn’t worth a smile. It seems as if they’re hiding something when they smile all the time. Babies smile a lot when you’re playing with them, some smile just looking into your face, but everyone…read more
My love language is not overbearing. Its reassurance.
It’s the effort of learning my favorite coffee order and holding hands as you drive. You bring your hand close on my worst day and bury it beneath my back. You vouch for personal time on the couch and watch comedy sitcoms for hours. I don’t ask to be seen, you want my attention.
To be in a…read more
Awww I love this. You do deserve every bit of it. Keep your standards high. Stay true to yourself and never ever ever settle in love or in life. xo. Thanks for sharing! <3 Lauren
Thank you for your kind words! My first piece, ” love language” was inspired by events that questioned my worth as an individual and also a potential partner. Sometimes, writing your desires down helps you realize that you shouldn’t rely on anyone else.
I love this piece. “Your love language is not overbearing. It’s reassurance”. Of course you deserve this! And Yes you’ll manifest this certainly. So cheers we love to see it!
Thank you, Sel! It’s been a journey through self-reflection that your wants and needs can be fulfilled on your own and not be suppressed by another. Love language to me is understanding your partner.
Dear Chanaly,
Thank you for sharing your very thoughtful words. I enjoyed them immensely. Keep understanding your partner with an open heart and good communication. That is what love is all about!
This is so great. I know a lot of And I love that yours is reassurance because a lot of people don’t really give people reassurance especially if the person has been through so much things were they lost trust in other people to where it probably affects their future relationships. But I think reinsurance is a Key love language that everyone s…read more
Thank you for sharing! As a woman who’s experienced a world that feels reassurance is clingy, I resonate with this. You have a beautiful soul and a beautiful soul deserves nothing less than this. Never settle and know your worth. Sending good energy your way.
I’ve always wanted deep connection. Honesty. Unwavering loyalty and unquestionable morals. I whined about the lack of depth in relationships each time my expectations weren’t exceeded. I wallowed in my own disappointment because I believed in a fairytale type of love. I thought, “if someone can dream it up, then they can make it happen.” I pus…read more
Honestly, this letter is even more beautiful as I read it back right now. There is so much beauty and strength is this piece. You are unbelievable strong and you have such a beautiful heart, you fairytale love story is on its way. And you are right, you can’t make someone love you the way you want and deserve to be loved. You can only refuse to…read more
Thank you so much for your words, Lauren! This was a hard piece to share, but our bit of conversation during the workshop reminded me that is a relatable experience. Hearing you share your bit of your relational history affirmed that we shouldn’t give up on the things we believe in.
Hi Alicia. What an incredible and moving letter. To leave something after so long and something you wanted so much had to be very tough. Took a lot of strength. I’m glad you have that strength
Thank you for recognizing my strength, Jim! I couldn’t have made such a transition if it weren’t for others in my life also reminding me of the strength I have.
Of course Alicia. Your strength is very easily recognizable. Making difficult decisions is not an easy thing to do. Few can. But I think , while others reminding you certainly helps, you are certainly capable of making that transition by yourself, but also smart enough to lean on others to help you too. Your strength is clear. And will only grow 🙂
I applaud you for making not the right decision, not the wrong decision but the best decision for YOUR life. You analyzed the level of depth that was lacking in your relationship that wasn’t there. You knew what makes you happy and you found yourself still searching. The power and courage it takes to let go of someone rather than to h…read more
Jamie, I absolutely loved that you positioned my decision outside of the terms wrong/right because I struggled with that for a while. Prioritizing myself over my relationship made me feel selfish, but it was truly about me taking control of my future. Thank you for speaking such kind words into my life!
I definitely felt that struggle in your words in your letter. Your story hits home more than you know and has challenged me to think which I appreciate. You mentioned feeling selfish at that time. If you look at any great person they’ve separated themselves from being average because of the sacrifices they’ve made. That’s why you’v…read more
I know it is hard to lose a relationship especially when you’ve been going on for almost a long time in your life. You are really strong for making a huge decision in order to take care of yourself.
Yes, this is true. I looked for mine dream story and life many years ago and it took me only two years to realize I wasn’t getting it. I grew up on such dreams and now I’m not sure if I really believe in it any longer. We teach our kids, as well as read the fantasy books as they’re growing up and they believe in these stories, just as we did…read more
This is so empowering. Your words speak volumes about your strength. We all have a dream and that dream is reachable always. Sometimes we just have to go with the flow of what we call life to understand ourselves on a deeper level. I’m so happy that you understood your worth. Your person will show up right on time. 🙂
Alicia, thank you for sharing. I too had this experience. I was in a relationship for 12 years, one that I felt like if I kept trying and trying it would be what I wanted. It would be the perfect relationship. Or not perfect, but it would work. We would work. Ending something you have been working on for so long is so difficult. Admitting that you…read more
Dear Unsealers,
In a world ever changing technologically, it is sometimes difficult to keep up. I know this because I came to the computer late in life.
About 25 years ago I was hired as a pharmaceutical sales representative. My new employer handed me a computer and told me that everything I do in the field needs to be recorded on…read more
And don’t you feel much better about it? We can do anything we truly put our mind to, especially if we’re willing to learn, and the thing is, we’re never too old in life to learn something, even if we’re too old to perform it daily, we can still learn.
Hi Karen, Thank you for your feedback. I really like what you said. You made me feel proud of my accomplishment which came late in my life.Stay in touch!
Shelley
You did it!! It’s a funny thing fear is. It’ll try to knock you down and tell you that you can’t do it but with strength you over came that and now you have a new valuable skill. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Mavis,
How sweet of you to recognize my struggle and comment. Yes with determination we can accomplish almost anything in life, i will try to remember this. Thank you for inspiring me. All the best!
Shelley
Dear unsealed community,
When I was 23 years old I was living with my parents and 2 sisters in Nanuet,N. Y. My father, who was a chemical engineer, owned and aerosol factory. One night we got a call from the Haverstraw police. My father’s factory blew up in the middle of the night. My father drove the 20 minutes up to Haverstraw at 3…read more
This is touching, and we don’t realize when we’re growing up that one day we would have to do without our parents. We figured that they will always be with us, until they’re not. It’s very hard, but as you stated, you do heal, you do one day get passed that, but it’s hard at first. What makes it better is when you find someone else to help feel…read more
Isn’t crazy how growing up looks so different for everyone. I can’t imagine what that must have felt like to have your parents move away. I’m so glad that you were able to find your person. Time does heal all wounds and talking about it often helps heal you. We truly don’t realize how fast we’re growing up until we’re forced to become fully indep…read more
It was 12 months into the covid pandemic. It was a very challenging time for the world. Personally, I was struggling. I hadn’t seen my daughter for a year and only saw my son from a long distance a few times even though he lived close by.
Then we started to be feel bolstered by the fact that a vaccine was coming in April. Could this vaccine r…read more
Thanks for sharing this. You were definitely not alone in having so many emotions related to the vaccine. I had a lot of emotions surrounding it too. I find it refreshing when people are able to share their emotions so freely and vulnerably without putting down people who have different perspectives. Your letter is so raw,…read more
OMG, this touched me so much, I felt it so deeply, because I understood every word stated. I too was scared of the vaccine, not only because it was new, but because I have/had many other illnesses that the vaccine may effect and I think it did, but I wanted to spend time with my daughter/grandkids, so I did it. But a little time after having it, I…read more
Covid was such a scary time. The vaccines were even scarier for a second there. I can’t believe that we as a collective experienced something so chaotic. I’m so glad that you were able to face your fear and we’re able to reunite with your loved ones. Thank you for sharing.
Dear Lauren,
Ever since you were a small child you were always extremely chatty. I was lucky to be the recipient of your words of wisdom. When you were a teenager I was working in New York City working with some really amazing physicians. I was intimidated by these colleagues that I actually had to teach. I had to give them very detailed…read more
aww mommy! I love you! And I told you that you were smart because YOU ARE!! You just needed to believe in yourself. I love watching you grow and seeing you venture out of your comfort zone. It’s cool to see you start to believe and see your own brilliance. I love you and will never stop telling you how smart and beautiful you are (inside and out).
Dear Lauren,
I miss and love you too! I will try to make you proud of me. I am always proud of you and all you do with The Unsealed as well as helping other people in need. You are a bright star in my world and you light up this world with your beautiful writing talent. Continue to spread your positivity.
Love,
Mom
A multi-generational family of scribblers! Hurrah!
Contemplating M and Y
Insignificant alone, joined together,
M and Y form a bond that is hard to pry apart.
My child moves me to the core.
Deeply felt, it draws upon instincts
passed down from ancient ancestors,
fossil remnants suggesting a common bond.
Beautiful, I love it, and it makes me think of my life cheerleader, my daughter. I came from a family of a mother/father, siblings, yet none who ever went to college, some who didn’t even complete high school. So what made me think I would. Our parents never, ever spoke with us about going to college, because they didn’t go. My mother became…read more
Dear Margaret Sanger,
Many years ago I was hired as a pharmaceutical representative to sell birth control. At the time, I did not give much thought as to how fortunate women are when it comes to deciding when they will birth a baby. But at some point I got curious. When did contraception become available to women in this country? To my…read more
Hi Roger,
It so comforting to know there are other people out there who understand the importance of reproductive freedom and reproductive choice. This freedom adds to the health and safety of women. I do hope more people in this country start to see that there are many life threatening gynecological situations that require medical…read more
Dear Unsealers,
I may have grown up in the fifties and sixties when women were relegated to domestic roles but I was
very lucky. I had a Dad and Mom who always made me feel that I could do more in life. They believed in me and encouraged me to get a good education and choose a career that would make me happy. I was lucky to find…read more
I always used to wonder why I am the way I am. I used to think we weren’t alike. I was more outspoken, more daring and a lot more aggressive than you. But as I have gotten older, I realize that although our personalities seem so different, there are a lot of similarities at the core of who we are. Mom, you set an example for me that a woman…read more