Dear Me,
I know it's been a long road
painful at every turn
full of things best called horrors
tragedy so young
so much to make up for
but look how far you've come!

You rode that wave of destiny
rode it like it was yours
and it was!
nothing ever held you back
or gave you a moment's pause
every stumble
or stagger
every time you came to your knees
you rose
and you rose above it all

Every moment you suffered
each time you felt the sting
of another loss
you changed the fates
and built yourself a ship
to sail those rough waters
crafted of experience and dreams
the canvas loosed to the winds
of change
pointing the prow towards
a glittering, brilliant future
you took it in both hands
and breathed your strength into it.

I am so proud of you
of every success
because nothing was given
you made it all happen
through knowledge
learning
determination
oh what determination you have!
always you have moved mountains
and parted the seas
a guiding light for the paths of others
an ear
a voice
urging them to carry on
for you have forged the way

So much was asked of you
without a tool to help
demanded, really, that you lead
that you make everything be alright
in the end
No one could stop you
and goodness did they try!
Every time you found the new bottom
you soared into a new height
always better then you had ever been
never taking it for granted

It is a gift in you
all of this you can do
and nothing is beyond your power
nothing beyond your reach
not everyone has this gift
possibly the most painful truth
terrible to watch them sit aside
the apathy of failure
unwilling to change
because change is scary
and why should the world be scary?

But it is, and you always knew that
fear was not something you allowed yourself
for fear is really pain
the literal mindkiller
causing stagnation and frustration
even in those who want to change
but only seek a few options
to bring it about
not you
to you, everything is possible
there is nothing that can't be fixed
no problem so insurmountable
that you would simply sit there with it
it is not your way.

And I want you to remember that
because life never gets any easier
you will grow older
you will forget some things you had learned
because sometimes
you throw out the baby
with the bathwater
and you are better than that
you are better than all of this
this silly life that people fret over
how seriously they take it!
and how strange that they do!
who of us will make it out of this life
alive?

So keep to your strength
never leave your determination
seek new challenges
always holding out a hand behind you
to help others on their way
even if their way
is not the way you are going
you still pick them up
as you always have
building them up
as you were built up
because I know you did not do this alone
you are never alone
someone helped you to become
everything you are
and you owe it to everyone else
to help them now

That is what will make this world great
and you great
greater than you are even now
nothing can stop you
except you
so don't forget
you are better than that.