Thursday, February 13, 2014
The Love Letter Project
The Love Letter Project does not call for a sappy, romantic, love note but an inspiration.
Consider the greatest challenge you've overcome in life and write a love letter to help a perfect stranger overcome that same challenge. I’m asking you to write a love letter because your personal story will make a powerful difference in the lives of others. You could write a love letter to anyone: an entrepreneur who is struggling with her first business, a man who has lost his job, or a child who is being bullied at school. Write a love letter about a challenge you faced, and you will touch hearts, lift spirits, and show the world that no one is alone.
If you enjoyed this post, consider sharing your letter HERE
I choose this project because there was a girl in one of my classes who had terrible terrible cuts on her wrist. I had told the teacher and what I saw and asked her name be given to the school psychologist.
Here is my letter to her. (You don't need a specific person, but I choose one.)
Dear, Stranger.
I'm terribly sorry for what has happened to you. I know it's lonely and life seems hard. I'm not going to tell you everything is going to be okay, or that all your problems will magically disappear. But I'm going to tell you it does get better, so much better. The cuts on your wrist will heal and so will the ones on your heart. This isn't a phase in your life, it's a milestone. Cutting is not a phase it's an addiction. Don't let anyone tell you that you need to grow up and stop. You're not childish, you are a strong young woman. I want you to know you can do anything you want in your life. I don't know your story, I'm sorry that you haven't been in class because I really want to befriend you. When you come back I'm going to make a point of introducing myself, we all need a friend. You will get though this, you will survive. I know your life is worth living. It's going to take a long time but I promise, I swear on every cat in the universe, you will be free from whatever is holding you back.
Love,
Jasmine.
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Dear Blank,
ReplyDeleteSilly as it sounds, I completely understand. Well, perhaps not completely, but I understand the feelings and the urge to scream out that nobody could possible understand how painful it is. My case may be different, but there is still the same absence, the same gaping hole they left you with. Keep your chin up, darling; It's all apart of fate's design.
-Krypton
Dear who ever reads this,
ReplyDeleteI may not know you but I understand what you are going through. I may not know what your family was like before it happened or what your family is like now. I do know though, that it is not easy. For a while you may struggle each and every day with yourself or with your other family members. I do know though that it is worth it. It gets better. Keep on fighting because just when your about to give up or givin that's when it will most important to stand tall on your feet. Another thing that will help you is to surround yourself with good friends because when you make a mistake and fall down they would not push you back down as you tried to stand, they would catch you before you hit the ground.
Sinserly,
Kevin Wilson
Dear whom it may concern,
ReplyDeleteYou are not by any means alone. You make think you are, but I am telling you right now that you are not. There are people that care about you that are here for you, don't let them go. You may think that your world is crashing down around you, but I am here to say that it is not. You will get through this. Hold on to those who care about you most and you will get through this. Life is about making mistakes and moving on. Now is your time to move on and start a new chapter in your life. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
Love,
Hanna
Dear whoever would like to feel better,
ReplyDeleteI understand life may suck sometimes. In reality you are not alone, I can promise that. I, as well as every person on earth, have been in a situation where you feel stuck. It may feel like there is no path to take, I know the world may seem foggy, but the fog is only temporary. You just keep going forward until the sun shines bright once more and you can continue your path. I will be here for you to be your helping hand in any situation:)
Love, Jordyn
Hey,
ReplyDeleteYou messed up, and you messed up hard. Maybe you feel like giving up is the best option. The only option. Don't try and pretend it didn't happen, because it did, and you need to realize that, and then jam it in a box and shove it behind you. Beating yourself up over it won't get you anywhere. It's over now, and that is all there is to it. Now, you need to persevere. Although it may feel like the light at the end of the tunnel has gone out, you just need to keep walking and come around the bend.
You haven't failed yet, even if you've failed a hundred times before.
Sincerely,
Halie
Dear Whoever,
ReplyDeleteI know it's hard. And I know that I could never understand. I get it. I just want you to know, I'm here for you. If you need to talk, I'll listen. If you need to cry, I offer up my shoulder. We all need somebody, and I want you to know I can be that somebody. I won't let you fall without a safety net and I won't let anyone walk all over you. There is a light at the end of this tunnel. Just because you can't see it right now, doesn't mean it's not there. I'm here for you. Please, remember that.
Love,
Amber
To the broken hearted,
ReplyDeleteI want to share with you a verse that kept me going through a terrible heart break. The verse is Romans 8:18 "The pain that you've been feeling, can't compare to the joy that's coming." Don't give up. Tomorrows a new day and it will be beautiful.
Love,
Anna
Mines like half letter half free verse, I'm not exactly sure how it ended up that way but somehow it did.
ReplyDeleteTo those with the same secret,
I know we say those things, but we can’t afford to do differently. Sometimes we reply that way only because its what they’re expecting. If we falter—just for a moment—they might see through the wall. The wall that’s like a veil, so long it took to put it up, so easily it topples down. I don’t understand your issues—I fear no one can—, but I understand your pain. The time it takes to heal, only to be marked again. It hurts like a pressure slowly becoming unimaginable. But as soon as you let go, it all goes away. The pressure gone and the scars all mended. The pain is pain no more. So you can sit there silently suffering or join me in tomorrow.
Dear crazy somebody,
ReplyDeleteYou'll never see this, nor will you remember my name years from now, but the least i can do is apologize. I thought once i could make a difference and be like one of my friends. I would laugh, pretend to be young, and run ramp it in youth. I was silly to ever think I could change myself, be just like you. I don't want to be the child that cries them self to sleep just because i wanted to "fit in." I don't want to do drugs once in awhile. It's not okay. Thats not me. I want to read under a tree in the middle of autumn, and swim in a pool with my brother because I'm afraid if he leaves me alone a shark will eat me. I like hot tea while i play zombies, and when I'm cornered i scream loud. You'll laugh with me because that's what we do. We laugh it off. I feel like we've grown apart even though we always hang out. You're always on your phone texting some new guy when I'm happy for the one I'm with. "He's not good enough for you, you're just weird get someone else." My dearest friend if only i could tell you this would you still love me or would you leave like last time. The last time i said you weren't you. You were chnging, you were grabbing at the door when every guy walked in. The truth is i miss you/ I miss going to the canal and throwing stones. I miss having water balloon fights with ketchup, and ranch fights just because we could. I just wish we couldn't grow apart, but i know we will. For this is will miss you. If only i could tell you. If only you could understand.
Sincerely, your best friend
Dear Broken, Shattered, Fallen, you
ReplyDeleteI know, it sucks. It sucks a lot. And you keep telling yourself you're fine, and that you MUST have it all together because you've always had it all together. You've always been that ever-optimistic-glass-is-half-full-ray-of-sunshine. You've never asked for help because you've never had to. In fact, you've always been the one giving advice, offering a shoulder to cry on, drying tears, replacing frowns with smiles, and sadness with joy. Only this time, it's you. And you don't know what to do. You don't know where to turn. You don't understand this new feeling...this new struggle coursing through your veins. You've always been the rock, the strong one. But suddenly the walls are closing in and you are scared because for once in your life you have no control. And you feel weak if you ask for help. You feel guilty for asking those around you for help because you do not want to be a burden. I mean, you have helped them countless times right? And now they're finally all doing well due to you. But now a piece of you is missing and you don't know how or when it left, but you want it back. And some days are better than others right? One day you're laughing with everyone and enjoying every second. And then there are the days where you can't sleep, or all you want to do is sleep. Or you snap at your best friend when they did nothing, or you just feel so heavy and sad and one word, one look, one inaction from someone or something else can send you spiraling. And then you find yourself barely holding it together, faking smiles, and going through the motions because it's expected of you. And you want so badly for someone to notice you're falling apart inside, but you have put up such a good shield, such a sturdy barrier and you've made sure you don't let anyone too close for fear you will tell them everything and they won't want anything to do with you after they discover what a mess you truly are. You can't focus. You feel stuck. Your body aches. You panic all the time. You're apathetic about things you've always cared about. It takes physical effort to tell someone "Hi" or complete a simple math problem. And you push everyone away because you can't imagine someone liking you when you hate yourself so much.
It's not weakness to talk to someone.
It's not weakness to allow someone inside.
It's not weakness to ask for help.
It's not weakness to admit you're hurt.
It's not weakness to be confused and sad.
It is strength to take that first step and seek the aid others are dying to offer.
They know you're hurting. They love you. And it's killing them that you aren't yourself. They know. But they want you to admit it. They NEED you to admit it because only you can take that first step. No one can do it for you. But after that, they will take care of you. Let them love you. Let them care. Because you deserve it. Enough of these shallow feelings of beauty and happiness. You deserve to feel free from your demons. You deserve to be confident. You deserve to view yourself as strong and weird and blessed.
You need to have faith in yourself and the world again.
Let someone in.
It will help.
I know.
Someone who's suffered and been in your shoes
Your healing half
Hey you, yeah you.
ReplyDeleteStop feeling so guilty. It's not your fault, okay? You need to forgive yourself and move on from the past already. Yes, I know you feel like you'll only be known for your mistakes, but your mistakes are there so you can make better things happen. The past is the past, you can't go back and change it, but you can change the present and the good choices/good deeds you make right now will have an effect on the future and have amazing results. The positive always makes up for the negative. The positive is always stronger than the negative. At first, forgiving yourself may not seem easy, but it could take time (also depending on how long you want to take). You may not be able to forget the past, but you can forgive yourself and end this guilt. You probably have fallen into some kind of sadness, some deep, dark, cold hole, almost to the point where you can't function, but let me tell you, it's not worth it. There are so many opportunities out there to make you a better person. Trust me, you'll soon learn to forget and learn to love yourself again.
Love your dearest friend,
Maryam <3
Well...
ReplyDeleteC? I was wondering if you felt any better since the last time we talked well, you didn't talk to me. But, somebody else. Did anything come of it? Orr did it end up like last time. Did they, uh, say something lke their "door was always open"? Stuff like that? Yeah, Ihate hearing that too. How's your sister? She talka little bit more? I hope so, too. And C? When your parents fight or, don't look at each other anymore, ignore it. Its the best advie Ihaveat the moment. Give your mom a hug for me. I hope her dad makes it out of intesive care and life support soon. Give the puppies a hug for me. I'm somewhere you'll never want to be. Doubt you'll get out, like me. But, we should talk more. In person. Not face to face. Too personal. More like back to back. That's not as intimate.Just give everyone Ihaven't seen in a while a hug? Thanks, C, you're a life saver.... you know I love right? No need to say it again? Yeah, Ithought as much as well.......
Dear heartache,
ReplyDeleteI know the world seems as if it was crashing all around you. I understand that you don't see the good in life anymore, but there is so much you have yet to learn. Things get better and not everything hurts at the same time. You get stronger and you learn so much from these things. You are a strong person who will get through it, even when you think it is time to give up. I cannot be the only person who believes in you, you have to believe in yourself also. I will always be here for you.
Sincerely, Sam
And C? Don't tell everyone you meet about what's happening in your life. Sure, it empties the dam for the moment, but what about tomorrow? And next week? Don't burden them, burden me.
ReplyDeleteI really liked this. I liked how you wrote the line," I don't know your story" that really tells someone that you want to get to know them and see what they like and dislike. Not every one wants to do that you know get to know the person they just make judgements on people and they don't care if it hurts them or not. Sometimes people just don't get it that what they do sometimes it affects others.
ReplyDeleteDear .... , Im not here to tell you it will get better, because no one really knows if it will. Im here to tell you that if it does get better its for a sepecial reason and if it doesn't, don't worry because this is your intended path of travel. This is the road you are meant to be traveling on. Whatever happens, be happy. Sound hard? Its not, i promise. All you can do is be happy, it makes everything that is pushing you under, now rise to the surface. When it rises you rise. When you rise, you soar. Its over one way or another, good or bad, its over.
ReplyDeleteDear stranger,
ReplyDeleteI want you to move on. Don't forget, but forgive. Even tough i know you're hurting, and you don't deserve it, move on. If she loves you, then she'll return. make her work for it too. make sure she knows that she can not be forgiven and it was not okay. Make her try hard to get your forgiveness, treat you like a mother should, and give her forgiveness. no one is perfect, but we can try and make up for our mistakes and settle for almost perfect. As much as she hurt you, she's still you. So give her another chance to make it right by forgiveness. She knows shes second best in your eyes, just dont make her last. Forgive and move on, itll be okay.
love scarlett
Dear stranger,
ReplyDeleteForget whatever they say
They have no idea who you are
They think its fun and games
But never see the tears that tear you apart
Now you may think things wont change
Yet high school is just a start
You have a life to love and give
So give it all to forget the remarks
From someone truly cares.
Dear stranger looking for happiness,
ReplyDeleteStop.
If you're looking for it, happiness wont come.
It comes once you stop pressuring yourself into the fake idealism of what society perceives happiness to be.
It's different for everyone.
Some get momentary happiness, and some are blessed with perpetual happiness.
Keep going, and stop centralizing on it.
Once you get an undefined definition of what "happiness" is, once you break down the stereotype of how happiness feels, and once you stop searching so hard for something that's supposed to find you naturally, happiness will overcome your life, and you'll look back and wonder what it felt like to live without the wonderful feeling of happiness.
To an open mind,
ReplyDeleteYou're not alone,
I'm here.
Lately I haven't been
I'm sorry, I should've had
Your life is in a storm
everything's out of control
I didn't notice at the time
I'm sorry, I should've had
All the comments they made,
They hurt you?
I never defended you
I'm sorry, I should've had
So you turned to the blade,
The only pain that you could cope.
I really had no clue
I'm sorry, I should've had
You thought I didn't care,
That'll never be true, never was
You were my best friend
I'm sorry I wasn't there
You were in pain,
I know that now
And I didn't do anything to help
It was me, the one to blame.
The smile you showed,
Now I know it was fake.
You were far beyond repair,
I'm sorry I wasn't there
You've had enough,
You thought no one even cared.
But I loved you,
You just never knew.
You're gone,
At least you died with a smile.
I miss you like crazy,
I hope you know I'll never forgive myself.
You're in a happier place,
You're probably having fun.
I know you're watching over me,
I promise, I really did care.
They're so wrong about you,
You were amazing
I hope you'll never forget that,
No, I won't let you.
I'll see you again,
Not any time soon.
I'll be waiting to reunite,
With the strongest person that I let down.
Sincerely,
Shayla
Every pain you go through only makes you stronger. I know it must've been hard to live with the parents you had, but look at you now, you're stronger than ever. Without that you wouldn't be who you are today, and honestly, i love who you are. You're an amazing, tough, caring person. because of it. Don't live in the past, live in the present. You need to just forgive and forget.
ReplyDeleteDear Stranger,
ReplyDeleteI can't say I know your story, because I don't. I can't say I know exactly what you're going through, because I don't. I wish i did, I wish I could sit down with you and share stories. I have been where you are. I know what it feels like to need that pain you inflict on yourself. I want to help you push past all the dark. I want to be that person that can pull you out. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it or that your'e over exaggerating. I know it is hard to love yourself so lets take it slower. I just want you to accept yourself.
love, Mckenna
To the person in need of assistance,
ReplyDeleteHello there. It seems you've recently fallen into some hard times, haven't you? I recall it being because of a person without a heart trying to rip out the heart of a person who does. Do not fret my friend, for they are just a monster, and all monsters can be overcome. I'm not referring to overcoming this monster as beating him or her at their own game. No, but instead beat the monster by not letting the monster win. Ignore what those monsters say about you, for what they say doesn’t matter. What matters is what you think of yourself, and you, my friend, are an incredible person. You are beautiful, you are amazing. Don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise.
Your Friend,
Austin
To the person who just needs someone to be there for them,
ReplyDeleteI've gone through my hardships in life and i can tell you that it all gets easier. You may feel like nobody understands you or you are alone in the world, but you're really not. There is someone out there who cares about you and wants you to live life to the fullest. Some may say just be happy and enjoy life like it is no big deal, but i know it is not that easy to just let that feeling go so easily. i just wanted to let you know that I won't do that i won't tell you how to feel or act. All i can tell you is I will be there for you and I won't ever judge you no matter what. Just remember you have someone who cares about you.
Your Friend,
Daisy
Dear girl who believes she is ugly and not good enough,
ReplyDeleteNot every guy out there believes that a skeleton of a body is desirable. I for one, believe it is disgusting. I believe that the most beautiful trait is that of a girl who believes in herself and believes she is beautiful, not what others say she is. So just remember this: when you are feeling down, just think that there are still good guys in the world who do not judge solely on appearance