A Letter I Wish Someone Had Written Me Seven Years Ago

Ananna Farzana
Jul 23, 2017 · 2 min read

My Dear,

I know your heart feels like it’s going to explode right now.

Trust me, I do. Not that I can still feel it.

Not the same way, anyway.

But I know.

I know how you’ve cried your heart out, desperately trying to find a loose thread to hold on to.

I know you didn’t find any. And you probably won’t, either. At least not any time soon.

But please, can you trust me on this?

Please, do not stop loving yourself.

And don’t listen to anyone who tells you otherwise.

That’s it.

That’s all I have to tell your right now.

No fancy words of inspiration. No magical solution to all your problems.

Because inspiration is not something you can just buy at the store and give to someone. You have to look for it. You have to cultivate within yourself the suitable environment for inspiration to grow.

And problems? They really don’t come with ready-made solutions, either. But don’t worry. You’ll find most of the solutions on your own. Some will solve themselves in a beautiful way, along the way. And after a certain period of time, some problems won’t even look like problems any more.

But that’s not what I want you to focus on right now.

I’m writing to you to tell you only one thing, and I’ll say it again.

Please, do not stop loving yourself.

Do not blame yourself for the mistakes.

Mistakes are inevitable. Not always necessary. But still very important.

They give you perspective. They keep you grounded.

And, as cliche as it sounds, mistakes make you stronger.

They push you to do incredible things, things you’d never have attempted otherwise.

Embrace your mistakes. Be proud of them. Let them shape the unique path that belongs to you, and only you.

Remember, life is much more than what everyone around you wants you to believe.

Yes, you must conform to some norms in order to be self-sufficient.

But also know, it is the journey that makes life worthwhile.

Treat life as a journey of learning and discovering.

Enjoy the journey. Surround yourself with positive friends and experiences.

But don’t lose yourself in the process.

Be kind, be patient. Hold on to the values you grew up with. Rediscover what they mean to you. Be open to new ideas.

Remember that the struggle of finding peace within is a never-ending one.

But please, no matter what happens, do not stop loving yourself.

Because you’re an amazing human being, deserving of love and appreciation.

Specially, that of your own.

(For my sister, who is seven years younger than me and already much more insightful than I’ll ever be.)

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade