Wow! Kadri that takes real courage to write to yourself right in the middle of the ache. I’ve walked through a separation too, so I feel you. What did your letter whisper back to you that you didn’t expect to hear? 💛🤗
Oh! Kadri! The courage it takes to share those letters? That’s the good kind of medicine, not just for you but for someone out there on the same road, wondering if they’re the only one. Your honesty will help them open up a little, and they may even say, “me too.” Keep going. Your healing is someone else’s hand to hold. I’m so proud of you for doing this. I am rooting for you.
Thank you for sharing that, Kadri. I can only imagine how much courage it took to write that letter during such a tender season. There is something so healing about putting those words on paper. Finally giving voice to what has been carried for so long.
Wishing you gentleness and strength as you move through this chapter. You are not alone.
Kadri, that means the world. Knowing this piece gave you the courage to share your own story is the highest kind of feedback. Your letters are powerful. Brave. Needed. I’m so grateful you chose to put them into the world. Someone out there will read your words and feel a little less alone. Thank you for showing up so honestly.
Thank you so much. Writing it brought up so much for me, but it also felt freeing. There’s something powerful about finally giving voice to what our younger selves needed. I’m so glad it resonated with you.
Hello Sara! What a beautiful letter. I felt every word like you were whispering to Little Sly too. The teenage girl who learned to shrink her joy so the world wouldn’t break it. I’ve written my own letter to her, and every line reminds me softness isn’t weakness, it’s the bravest thing we reclaim. Your words show what real reparenting sounds like when we stop hustling for love. Tell me this, what’s one thing Little Sara still knows about you that grown-up you forgets sometimes?💛🤗
Wow, thank you so much Sly. Your words truly touched me. I can picture Little Sly shrinking her joy and it breaks my heart because I know that feeling too well. I love what you said about softness being the bravest thing we reclaim. That is it right there.
And your question — what does Little Sara still know? She knows how to dream out loud. No filters. No fear. I forget that sometimes. But she never does.
Wow! Sara, I like the way you named that. It landed nicely in my chest. Little Sara dreaming out loud, no filters, no fear? That’s the flame you keep alive for all of us. You’ve made me want to sit closer to Little Sly tonight and ask her what she still wants to shout into the world. I appreciate you sharing this with me.💛
Sly, your words moved me again. That image of you sitting closer to Little Sly tonight — that is everything. That is the work. Keeping that flame alive for each other is how we heal in community. Thank you for meeting this moment so openly. I felt every word.
Thank you for this. The thing that struck me most was the statement “Ask them what they wish they heard more often. Then say those things out loud to yourself.” What an insightful way to expose the inner angst which can sometimes reveal what has always held you back.
She does look happy, doesn’t she? That’s what makes it even more powerful. Sometimes we smiled the brightest when we were hurting the most. I think that little smile held a lot more than joy. It held strength, hope, and a deep desire to be seen.
I just wrote a similar letter to myself couple weeks ago while going through a separation. Thanks for sharing.
Wow! Kadri that takes real courage to write to yourself right in the middle of the ache. I’ve walked through a separation too, so I feel you. What did your letter whisper back to you that you didn’t expect to hear? 💛🤗
I've actually decided to publish some of the letters. I wrote a lot, lots of reflections and self-forgiveness, trying to make sense of how I ended up in relationship I was in. I will be publishing more as I feel it might help someone else feel not so alone: https://open.substack.com/pub/kadripereira/p/i-was-there-letters-to-the-mother?r=2wwd27&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Oh! Kadri! The courage it takes to share those letters? That’s the good kind of medicine, not just for you but for someone out there on the same road, wondering if they’re the only one. Your honesty will help them open up a little, and they may even say, “me too.” Keep going. Your healing is someone else’s hand to hold. I’m so proud of you for doing this. I am rooting for you.
xo,
Sly 💛
Thank you for sharing that, Kadri. I can only imagine how much courage it took to write that letter during such a tender season. There is something so healing about putting those words on paper. Finally giving voice to what has been carried for so long.
Wishing you gentleness and strength as you move through this chapter. You are not alone.
thank you. Your post actually gave me courage to publish some of my own letters: https://open.substack.com/pub/kadripereira/p/i-was-there-letters-to-the-mother?r=2wwd27&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Kadri, that means the world. Knowing this piece gave you the courage to share your own story is the highest kind of feedback. Your letters are powerful. Brave. Needed. I’m so grateful you chose to put them into the world. Someone out there will read your words and feel a little less alone. Thank you for showing up so honestly.
Sending hugs to lil Sara🌹
Hugging right back! 💛
Have talked about this so much in therapy.
Same!! That is actually where I got the idea to write this. So much of it came from the work I have done in therapy.
This was so raw and real. I love the idea of writing a letter to your younger self. Beautiful post.
Thank you so much. Writing it brought up so much for me, but it also felt freeing. There’s something powerful about finally giving voice to what our younger selves needed. I’m so glad it resonated with you.
Hello Sara! What a beautiful letter. I felt every word like you were whispering to Little Sly too. The teenage girl who learned to shrink her joy so the world wouldn’t break it. I’ve written my own letter to her, and every line reminds me softness isn’t weakness, it’s the bravest thing we reclaim. Your words show what real reparenting sounds like when we stop hustling for love. Tell me this, what’s one thing Little Sara still knows about you that grown-up you forgets sometimes?💛🤗
Wow, thank you so much Sly. Your words truly touched me. I can picture Little Sly shrinking her joy and it breaks my heart because I know that feeling too well. I love what you said about softness being the bravest thing we reclaim. That is it right there.
And your question — what does Little Sara still know? She knows how to dream out loud. No filters. No fear. I forget that sometimes. But she never does.
Wow! Sara, I like the way you named that. It landed nicely in my chest. Little Sara dreaming out loud, no filters, no fear? That’s the flame you keep alive for all of us. You’ve made me want to sit closer to Little Sly tonight and ask her what she still wants to shout into the world. I appreciate you sharing this with me.💛
Sly, your words moved me again. That image of you sitting closer to Little Sly tonight — that is everything. That is the work. Keeping that flame alive for each other is how we heal in community. Thank you for meeting this moment so openly. I felt every word.
Your words feel like a soft matchstick, keeping that shared flame burning brighter than either of us could alone. Thanks, Sara, that's how we grow.💛
Thank you for this. The thing that struck me most was the statement “Ask them what they wish they heard more often. Then say those things out loud to yourself.” What an insightful way to expose the inner angst which can sometimes reveal what has always held you back.
We all need to remember that children need to be children.
But the little girl looks happy
She does look happy, doesn’t she? That’s what makes it even more powerful. Sometimes we smiled the brightest when we were hurting the most. I think that little smile held a lot more than joy. It held strength, hope, and a deep desire to be seen.