Dear past self,
I hope this letter finds you well. You may recognise the voice, reaching out to you across the years; it is your future self, writing to tell you of the journey ahead. My hope is that this letter will serve as a conduit of hope, strength and confidence from your future self that this too shall pass.
This letter reaches you at a time when you are unaware of the challenges that lie ahead. Your symptoms are worsening, and your family are right to be concerned and will advise you to see your GP with haste. Your GP will tell you that you have IBS, but they are wrong, you will insist on further tests, which will trigger the start of a tumultuous phase unlike any other you have faced thus far. You’ll feel as if you’re falling at a rapid pace, without being able to see the ground. It’s important to remember that this is not the end, rather the beginning of a new chapter which you couldn’t have anticipated.
The pace will seem relentless, the trials will seem immense, yet between these trials you’ll have room to breathe. Take these fleeting moments to treasure what is important to you, remind yourself of why you must fight and give yourself reasons to carry on. Let go of what you cannot control and be kind to yourself. Try not to see yourself as a victim; rather, see it as God testing you before your breakthrough.
As you recover from your surgery, you will find a new fire lit within you. It will seem faint to begin with, but it is there; give it time to grow. As the fire grows, you’ll discover a new sense of confidence as you look back on all that you have had to endure and how far you have come. Nothing will seem the same again; your passion, your outlook on life, and what you felt was important will all seem mundane and inconsequential. Take the time to journal and search deep within yourself to unearth your new denotation, it is there, you just need to find it.
During this journey, don’t hesitate to reach out to those around you. Sharing your experiences with friends and family online can be incredibly healing. Blogging about your journey not only lightens your burden but also strengthens your connections with others. You’ll find that opening up can lead to unexpected support, encouragement, and opportunities which will act as a reminder that you’re not alone in this fight.
Growth isn’t always linear, and healing may not come as swiftly as you hope, but every step forward is a testament to your courage and resilience. Celebrate each gain, no matter how small it may seem. The road to recovery will teach you that life is not only about what we survive, but how we live beyond survival. You are not just surviving; you are thriving.
Kind regards,
Your future self
