My Writing Exercise For Today

 I was tasked with a writing exercise today of a letter to my younger self. What follows is that letter:

If I could go back and speak to the boy I once was, I would tell him that the hard times do not last forever. The choices that seem right in the moment may set you back, and yet, without them, you would not be who you are today. Life is messy, and the road is often full of missteps, but each stumble carries a lesson.

Do not lose your joy in the small wonders. Stand outside on a moonlit night, gaze at the stars, and let yourself wonder about all that has been and all that will be. Do not let heartbreak close your heart, and do not let death make you afraid to live. For a life not fully lived is worse than any loss you will endure.

I know middle & high school feel like storms that will never end. The whispered insults in the hallways, and the weight of feeling like no one sees you. You will stumble through those years, thinking that each slight is permanent, each rejection defining. But you will survive. You will find moments of magic. Quiet corners in the library, a song that lifts your spirits, and the thrill of discovering a story that feels like it was written just for you. Those small sparks will remind you of joy, even when the world seems dark.

Learn to love, and learn to let yourself be loved. High school will bring heartbreak and disappointment, but also friendship, laughter, and connection. Your empathy will grow from the trials you face, and you will come to understand the struggles of others in ways only your own pain can teach you. You do not always have to be the life of the party, and “no” is a word of immense power. You do not owe explanations to anyone. Let your life speak for itself, and trust that your integrity and resilience will define you more than any performance for others ever could.

You will stumble, and you will fall, but each time, rise again. Though it may not feel like it now, your parents do love you. They were never taught how to show it, just as you are learning how to love yourself. The abuse you endure at the hands of the woman you call Mama is not your fault. She is broken, shaped by her own past, and yet, even in her imperfection, she carries love. One day, in the months before her death, you will see her differently. You will recognize the little girl inside her—the one who was never taught to heal, to love, to nurture. In seeing her, you will understand yourself.

You will discover that knowledge and curiosity are lifelines. In the quiet of your bedroom, reading late into the night, you will explore worlds far beyond your own. Those stories, ideas, and questions will become the tools that shape your future. Hold onto that love of learning. It will guide you, comfort you, and light a path when other lights go out.

Your journey is one of learning: to forgive, to endure, and to embrace life fully. The boy you were is still within you, carrying both wounds and wisdom. Let him grow into a man who cherishes wonder, seeks knowledge, embraces love, and stands unafraid of the beauty and pain of the world.