A Letter to You

Hi Guys. A really busy schedule full of grown-up things for me this week, which means less time to write. From time to time (maybe a few times each year), I will wheel out something I wrote a while back that was received positively. Today, I thought I’d polish up and re-publish something from a couple of years ago that created as much response and discussion as anything I’ve ever written. It’s fair to say that this post resonated with many people on many levels and for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes, the writing process is hard work and sometimes, things seem to write themselves with very little help from me. There are times when words and ideas flow from a non-cerebral place with no effort – this article was the result of one of those times. Whether this is your first or second read, I hope you get something from it.

Dear You,

Hi, how are you? Actually, don’t answer that. I know already. I know because I am you. Well, kind of you. I’m the other you; the you, you could be. The you, you want to become. The you that both excites and terrifies you. I am the one who has whispered encouragement in your ear for as long as you can remember. I am the one who planted those dreams in your hopeful, young heart. The one who held your hand when you were scared and the one who knows you best. I have always been there. I will always be there. I am your potential. I am your possibilities. I am your strength.

I am you.

Over the years you have let the noise of the world drown out my whispers. You have allowed life to beat the dreams out of you. You have listened to strangers who resent you and ignored me who loves you. You have allowed logic to replace passion, fear to replace excitement, chaos to replace calm and you let go of my hand long ago. I’m making contact with you today because I want you to know I’m still here. Still waiting. Still whispering. Still planting seeds and still holding out my hand. I know you feel frustrated. I understand. I know you feel like you’ve wasted too much time and talent. You haven’t. I know you feel like a fraud. You’re not. I listen to the conversations; the ones in your head. They are exhausting. And unnecessary. Sometimes I try to interject but lately… you don’ t even hear me.

That’s why this letter.

I see everything you do. Everything. I know you intimately and I want only the best for you. I see your fear and I want you to know that you need not fear because while you are mortal, you are also eternal. Your present physical reality is but a minor pit-stop on a much greater journey. While you have a body, it is not who you are. While you may have achieved much, you are not, and will never be, your achievements. And while you often think too much, your thoughts are not you and you are not them. You are much more than all of those very temporary things. I want you to know that while you are one of seven billion, you are both special and unique; even though you don’t feel like either. I know right now that there’s more that you don’t understand than you do… and that’s okay. Normal even. We call that being human. One day, you’ll understand more but for now, you don’t need to understand everything. Nobody does. Sometimes all you need to do is… BE. Can you do that? Thinking is good to a point. After that point, it will make you sick. You have allowed your thoughts to come between you and me… or should I say between you and the you, you have always wanted to become.

In a few seconds when you finish reading this letter, I want you to close your eyes, open your heart, open your mind, be still and just listen. Don’t think, just listen. Please. I’ll do all the talking. Just for a minute or two. Don’t think or rationalise me out of existence. You’ve done that too much already. I know you’re busy but this is important. You’re important. Which is why I hijacked Craig’s blog today. You listen to him but now I want you to listen to me. Er, you. I want to have that long-overdue conversation with you and I want your full attention. That quickening of your heart, that emotion you’re beginning to feel right now is me. Or should I say, you. The inspirational you. The fearless you. The beautiful, talented, generous, kind and amazing you.

Love you, let’s stay in touch.

You x

* Don’t forget my new kid’s book (The Angry Ant) is out now! Love this article? Sign up for my FREE Email Newsletter today to receive more articles like this, and my FREE Ebook!