This letter is a heartfelt expression of love and compassion for my younger self at various stages of my life. It carries the messages I wish I could have heard during those pivotal moments. Now, I have the chance to share these messages with her, offering reassurance, encouragement, support, and, most importantly, love.
Dear Young Radiant Rachel,
Before I begin this love letter to you, take a moment to let the following words truly sink in:
You are worthy of love.
I see you.
You matter.
You have something to say.
You are enough.
You are allowed to take up space.
You are beautiful, inside and out.
I am proud of you.
I love you.
Looking back on our journey, I can’t help but smile. I’m deeply moved by your inner strength, resilience, and the light that shines so bright within you. Your heart is just so beautiful. There will be times throughout your life when you feel lost, disconnected, alone, afraid, and uncertain. It’ll feel like you’re drifting further and further away from yourself. But I want to reassure you–you will always find your way back to yourself. You’ll find your way home.
The move from Harriston to Kitchener was…rough. I see you sitting in your new room, tears in your eyes, thinking about the friends you left behind. I see you expressing sadness and anger through singing and dancing. I see you trying so hard to be liked by the girls in your new class, but for reasons you can’t understand, they just don’t accept you. You start to wonder if there's something wrong with you. All you want is to fit in, to belong. You begin to change the way you look, hoping that might make a difference. Maybe if you start to act like them, they’ll invite you to hang out. But no matter what you try, you get rejected over and over again. You feel like you just don’t measure up. Some days, you leave school in tears, wishing that you could go back to your old life. You want to go back to the place where you felt loved and accepted. You desperately want to return back to the place where you didn’t have to fight to make friends; friends just flowed naturally into your life.
It may not feel like it now, but this season of your life holds valuable lessons–ones that will echo throughout your journey. The first lesson is: you are enough. Period. I know that it’s easy to attach your worth to what others think of you, but the truth is, your worth is inherent. No one can take your worth away from you. You were born worthy, and you will leave this world just as worthy. The second big lesson here is: BE YOU! Be unapologetically you. Be authentic! So, young Rachel, embrace your uniqueness, your quirks, and keep exploring what truly lights you up. You are one of a kind. Imagine how dull the world would be if we were all the same–cookie-cutter versions of each other. Yawn. You have a very special spark inside of you that no one can take away from you. Remember that always, and keep shining bright!
Rachel, you lose a very important person in your life at a young age, and I see you struggling to understand why God took your grandpa away from you. It doesn’t seem fair. Grandpa understood you. He was your biggest cheerleader. He believed in every single dream that you had, no matter how big or small.
During his hospital treatments, you show so much love and bravery by staying by his side. Your heart is full of love for him, and all you want is for him to get better. The time you spend with grandpa in the hospital will stay with you forever. Though you might not fully realize it at the time, this is when you begin to feel an inner calling. When grandpa looks lovingly into your eyes and tells you that you’re a helper who will make a difference in many lives, those words are truly a precious gift. Cherish these words. Keep them close to your heart. Every time you help someone, you’ll feel a warmth in your heart, reminding you of grandpa and the beautiful words he shared with you.
Life becomes very real when your childhood ends too soon, and you find yourself taking on adult responsibilities. Play, laughter, and joy get pushed aside, and eventually forgotten about altogether. This is the moment where you begin to feel the weight of the world on your shoulders, as if it’s your job to make everything better and easier for all the people in your life.
Rachel, the best piece of loving advice I can give you is to just be a kid! Drop that heavy metaphorical boulder you’re carrying. It’s not yours to carry. As you release it, feel the lightness that comes from letting go. Now, go outside and play. Laugh. Allow joy to flow through every inch of your being. There will come a time when you mourn the loss of your childhood. Give yourself permission to feel sad, angry, and disappointed. The beautiful part is that you will rediscover play as an adult. You’ll feel joy again. You’ll laugh again. I promise you that.
Throughout your academic journey, you find yourself attaching your value and worth to your achievements. The external validation from good grades or praise from your teachers may fill a void in the moment, but this feeling of validation is only temporary. Before you know it, you’re off chasing the next goal, believing that your worth is so deeply connected to your performance in school. It is worth stating this again: your worth is inherent. Your worth isn’t determined by your grades or the opinions of your teachers. You are worthy just as you are. So, before you dive into your next project or task, take a moment to slow down, breathe, and celebrate yourself. Recognize and appreciate the effort you’ve put in, and treat yourself with the same kindness, respect, and compassion you would extend to a close friend.
You'll face rejection at various points throughout your life–even to this very day. It will hurt. A lot. Remember, being hard on yourself won't change what happened; it will only add to your suffering. Burying yourself in work and keeping yourself busy won’t numb the pain you feel.
To offer comfort during these challenging moments, remember that rejection is redirection. It may feel like the end of the world when certain relationships fall apart, or when you don’t land that job you’ve been dreaming of. But I want you to know that rejection is clearing the way for new opportunities, loving relationships, and valuable lessons.
It’s completely normal to want to contract and turn inward when you feel rejected. Give yourself time and space to heal; there’s no need to rush the healing process. It’s okay to slow down and embrace periods of stagnation. Trust that these slower seasons are a part of your healing journey. In time, you will emerge from these moments with greater clarity, feeling more grounded and centered, ready to share your light with the world once again.
In moments of heartbreak and loss, I understand the desire to want to harden your heart. It feels like it’s the only way to protect yourself from feeling pain. I know it hurts, and it may seem safer to bury your thoughts and emotions deep inside. But pushing them down won’t make them go away. It’s like trying to hold a beach ball underwater–no matter how much strength you use, the ball will eventually shoot back up with significant force. The same is true for emotions. You can push them down, clench your body, and restrict the flow of energy only for so long before they inevitably resurface. I’m here to encourage you to feel. Feeling your emotions is part of the human experience. I know it may feel scary, but the pain is temporary. It will pass. In time, you’ll feel lighter, open, and at peace. When fear holds you back from letting love in again, take a deep breath and remember that love is the greatest gift of all.
To all those who hurt you along your journey, choose to forgive them and move forward with your life. Forgiveness doesn’t excuse their behavior; rather, it frees your mind, body, and soul from holding onto bitterness and resentment. Forgive yourself for the same reasons. Release judgments and let go of expectations. Remember, life happens for you, not to you.
There are times in your life where you shrink yourself in order to make other people feel more comfortable. But it’s time to take up space, girl! Roll your shoulders back, stand tall, smile, and open yourself up to all the amazing gifts the world has to offer. Your presence is not a burden; it’s a gift! While some people may want you to stay small and quiet, there will be others who truly resonate with your energy and inner spark. Always remember that you deserve to take up space in this world. Be confident. Be bold. Express yourself. You have a voice, and you have something to say.
My heart aches for you as I watch you navigate the challenges of chronic pain and anxiety. I see and feel your daily struggles. Fear has such a strong hold on your mind, body, and spirit. I see you desperately searching for answers, trying to understand what’s happening within you. As time goes on, you begin to feel increasingly disconnected from your body. When you look in the mirror, you struggle to see life in your face; instead, all you see is pain, suffering, and despair.
There comes a point where you hit rock bottom. You realize that you can’t do this alone anymore. What you do next is incredibly brave, even though it doesn’t feel that way at the time. You surrender. With tears streaming down your face, you fall to your knees and pray. You ask God for help. Well, you actually scream for help. You finally set your ego aside and admit that you’re struggling. You’re unable to see a way out of it all. You begin to soften your grip on the need to control everything in your life. You choose to be vulnerable. You choose to open your heart. You choose faith over fear for the first time in your life.
Just four days after asking for God's help, you’re introduced to Curable, a chronic pain relief app that completely transforms your life. Within the app, you find valuable lessons that help you better understand yourself and what’s happening internally. Trust that the physical, mental, and emotional pain you’re experiencing serves as a catalyst for growth, healing, and transformation.
Your faith is restored, and you recognize that you’ve been given a second chance at life. What a blessing!
You've transformed your pain into love, and now you're on a mission to share that love with people around the world through selfless acts of service. Your desire to help others is truly inspiring. It’s amazing how grandpa sensed you would become a “helper” when you were just 8 years old. He saw something in you that you couldn’t see in yourself at that time.
Rachel, you are truly extraordinary! I am so proud of you. I love you more than words can even express. Keep shining bright.
With love,
The Woman You’ll Become
I’d love to hear from you! If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be? Let me know in the comments below!
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