Love Letter
Dear Ashanti,
I love you dearly!
Twenty-seven has been one of most transformational years of our lives, so far. Change does not come without the pain of shedding the old. Grandma is telling you, the therapist is telling you, you are telling you this is the age you finally learn what it means to truly let go. Letting go of shame about who you are. Letting go of shame about your family. Letting go of shame of being a woman with desires and needs that require fulfillment. Letting go of a past that you cannot change but you can learn from. We are moving into learning how to be more present, more in the moment. Less talking about who we were and beginning to speak on who we are currently. Our life has began to unravel so beautifully, this is the year we began to bloom.
You are brilliant, my dear, a multi-faceted woman of many talents. This is the year you learned it was perfectly fine for you to be different. Nothing quite wrong with standing out. You being fearless enough to turn your pain into art has healed our spirit in ways we never imaged. I think we are currently living in a dream we forgot about long ago, one we knew would fulfill us but did not seem attainable. This year we learned that we dream in the way we do because what we want is possible to have in reality. A hard earned reminder learned through learning to love ourselves.
This year we mastered self-love. Though it took time to unlearn much of what we knew we now walk with grace, chin up with confidence that we are beautiful. To hear it is one thing, to believe it to be true is another. Light only shines as brightly as it does because of the darkness that surrounds it and this is the year we learned how to accept every aspect of who we are. The good, the bad, the flawed, the beautiful and the ugly. As a human it is all valid. I am so proud of you!
The heart chakra opening is one of the most memorable experiences we’ve had. Didn’t realize we had been so closed off. So cold. So detached. How very Elsa-esque we were. Life will harden you if you allow it but we know now we are too passionate, too feeling, too big-hearted to let it keep us down for too long. There is so much power is being able to love, experience heartbreak and open up to love again. You are strong!
This year we started therapy and began to take our mental health serious. In our community, though not as taboo as before, many of us were taught to keep certain topics within the home. Never go talk to anyone about it. We are blessed with the spirit of resilience but what is even more powerful is seeking help. We’re a few sessions in but part of the letting go is actually speak on your feelings about what has happened instead of letting it ruminate in your mind. Healthier mind, healthier life. We don’t deserve for anxiety and worry to be our daily mindset.
I love you because you are nurturing and caring. Not everyone sees the soft side of you and maybe they shouldn’t but it’s safe to start living, to open up to those who see you.
I love you because you wear your heart on your sleeve, no matter how cringe baby!
I love you because you’re willing to walk your own path, even if others don’t understand. Everyone will not see or understand the vision you have for your life.
I love hearing you use your voice! To stand up for others, to stand up for yourself, to read poetry you’ve written or sing songs written by another. You little songbird! I could listen to you sing and talk all day.
I love how brave you are but sharing your journey online. Can’t say I ever had much thought about it but damn girl, you’re being perceived and that’s okay. You have a story that deserves to be heard and shared.
I love how you are stepping into a new era not only in adulthood but in womanhood. A necessary roller coaster. We grown as hell, huh?
I love your wit, your mind, your way with words. I love how you can lift the vibes with a well timed joke. You’re an entertainer at heart.
I love your genuine spirit. Please remember people like you exist in this word.
I love your uniqueness and sense of style! You’ve become so much more comfortable in being expressive, in every way.
I love that you’ve accepted your sensitivities as a positive, especially in the world we live in.
Please come back to this letter when you forget how far you have come, if you ever forget how amazing you truly are.
Twenty-eight looks like the year you allow joy into your life. Where you stop taking life so seriously after being so guarded. Where you allow yourself to be vulnerable and learn how connect with people as yourself, authentically. A time to strengthen and nurture the bonds you do have, especially when pertaining to family. Receive the good life is giving to you, you deserve it.
You’re on the right path, Ashanti.
Don’t forget that.
Stay grateful!
Asè.
xoxo,
Ashanti
♡
