Dear 15 year old me,
I know you don’t want to hear this, and it is okay if you don’t retain any of it, but hear me out Jubilee.
You are going through a really hard time. You’ve had an on again-off again relationship with cutting your skin, and you don’t think there is any way you can ever fully stop. You picture yourself at 35, still picking up a razor. This is not your future. You will stop. You’re not destined to leave 200 marks a day on your thighs, and there will be a day when all of those gashes will turn into scars.You worry that your scars are ugly and that no man will love you. Luckily, you are wrong again. They aren’t unlovable, and your husband won’t give them a second thought. He accepts you for you.
You have started dating a guy, and I know that you think he is the one. You believe that you are one of the lucky girls who happened to find their soulmate at 15. I know that you wish this to be true so much it hurts, but this is not how things will pan out. When this relationship started you thought that you knew what you wanted. You wanted to only live give your heart to one person. But as you dated this boy, the gifts and declarations of love he gave you began to wear down your defenses. He even asked you on numerous occasions, “If you truly thought we would get married, why do we need to wait? Don’t you love me? Or are you unsure of me?” You felt guilt to your core and felt that you needed to prove to him how very wrong he was. You didn’t have doubts. Jubilee, oh Jubilee. I don’t judge you for this. You were lost and didn’t know where you could possibly turn. When all was said and done, on your 16th birthday, you realized that he never wanted to see your face again. All those dodged calls and family emergencies were not based in reality. He was done with you, and he never intended on seeing you again after that day.
Maybe deep down you thought that he could save you. You wanted him to save you from your childhood secret that you had kept from those closest to you. One that you had let slip to a few people around you, but no one had saved you yet. You have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. You have nightmares 5 times a week of being raped and try to hide it from those closest to you. You want to tell no one and everyone at the same time. You remain closed off to family but unhealthily open to acquaintances. You want someone to care, even if they barely know you.
You will get through this. PTSD is not an easy things to live with, but you will learn ways to cope with the trauma of your past. You will learn that your identity comes from who you say you are, not how you were treated. There is always hope.
I know that you love the organization, “To Write Love on Her Arms”. You even hope to get their tag line, “rescue is possible” tattooed on you. You have repeated these words constantly to yourself, hoping that with enough repetition they will finally feel believable to you. The truth is, you don’t believe it. You believe you are destined to live in pain and to live as an afterthought, the damage left after a tornado.
Jubilee, this is a lie. Rescue is not just possible, it is a reality. You will survive this. You will survive the abuse. You will survive your broken heart. You will survive your self harming years. You will not just maintain your heartbeat, you will actually find happiness.Yes,happiness, that thing you believe to be a myth. You will be rescued. You will put your hope in God and in yourself. You will give yourself grace to deal with the trauma of each storm.
I know you feel older than you are. I know you think you are smarter than every adult around you. Jubilee, you have so much to learn. That is okay. It is okay to not know it all. It is okay to admit you need help. I believe in you. Trust someone who has been through these experiences with you; you will get through it all.
With Love,
Happy Jubilee
What an amazing post! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much Angela!
Super like your post! I should do the same! Thanks a lot for the great idea!
So glad you liked it!
This is a great post – I love the idea. Thank you so much for sharing this 🙂
I cannot tell u how much I love reading this. I also write such letters to old my self’s. The base of all my writings is ‘it is all going to be okay, give it some rest. Give it some time.’
And it is so true. And you have well articulated the message in the post. Loved it❤️
This is such a well articulated article😍 I LOVE reading such stuff. Coz I write them for myself too. It all comes down to one thing – give it time it will all be okay. Some patience, some perseverance ❤️
This is beautiful. I would love to do something like this for myself in a few years.
This is a reflection of myself at 15 years old, when an older boy, confessed his liking towards me and I fell with my whole heart in love with him. Like you, I thought it was going to be everlasting and gave him my all – entirely. I thought I’d be with him forever, so why not. After a few years together, he left off to school and our relationship came to an end. Oh! The things we believe when we’re young and in love, or what we perceive to be love. It’s a heartbreak that’s taken me years and years to mend. But yes! Like you, I found someone. He’s helped mend my broken heart, he’s loved me through it all, through my illness and endless surgeries, he’s, my husband. God bless these Godly men that have a heart like no other. Mine isn’t a perfect man, but then, what’s perfect?! He’s what God thought I needed in my life. 😊🙏🏽
Amazing post Jubilee, I admire your courage!
This is so beautiful, I went through a really hard time when I was younger too. My boyfriend at the time did not care about me, no matter how much he said he would. I loved everything about this blog!
Inspiring, beautiful, raw, and empowering. Thank you so much for sharing, I can only imagine how difficult it must of have been to share such a raw part of yourself. But this post will help someone <3 I was similar, as a teen. Life was not too kind to me back then, but honestly, I wouldn’t change a thing because it made me stronger. This is a lovely post Xo
Girl it reminded me of me. There are many things that I want to tell my younger self too. But now I feel whatever I have been through it has taught me and made me the person I am today.
Actually, I am affraid to write such a letter to the younger me… I don’t know why…
So sweet. Makes me wonder what me in 10 years will be telling me right now. Love this post
Such a powerful post and I’m glad you came through it.
Wow such a amazing post, PTSD is such a serious ailment I know so many people that suffer from it. A common mis conception is that it only strikes war victims but really any with trauma can experience this.
This is amazing. Thank you for sharing!
This made me so sad. So many people going through something. I hope that you get all the love that you deserve. You are wonderfully and beautifully made!
This is such a nice post, so inspiring. I do believe such letter practice is only for the better, it helps you to set focus and organize
Thank you so much! Writing letters has definitely been great for me:)
I would love to write to my 15 year old self.
You should! It was very therapeutic for me:)
Oh, my. Yes, that feels very familiar. I’m so glad you can see how far you’ve come, and that this gives you peace.
Oh Jubilee, this was written so beautifully. I teared up at “rescue is possible” because it so is. You are such a strong girl! ♡
this letter to yourself truly touched me , all i wanted to do is give you a massive hug
Beautifully written. If only we could all go back and teach our younger selves the realities of life!
this was beautifully written. but i’m more impressed by the courage Happy you has to write to 15 year old you!
I’m glad to read this letter, although I learn about you that you went through much pain, I also learn that you overcame those dark moments and healed. I am happy for you!
Oh love. This was a tough but uplifting read. I’m so, so glad you’re in a better place now.
Thank you Emily! I am so thankful to be where I am today!
What an inspirational read! It’s crazy looking back and thinking about the things you would tell yourself now that you have the knowledge that you do!
Thank you so much Courtney!
I appreciate your willingness to share your experience through this letter to your younger self. I’m sorry that you went through what you did, but I’m so glad that you’re in a much better place now, emotionally, mentally, and physically.
I truly wish this was possible. i could tell myself 15 year old self a few things too.
I wish it was possible, but even writing one now is very helpful:)
Ahhh LOVE this! I so wish I could actually send a note to the younger me! So many wonderful words of wisdom!
Thank you so much Chloe!
Wow! Jubilee, every word left me breathless. This is lovely.
Thank you so much Tara!
Hi Jubilee, I’ve emailed you, please let me know if you’ve received it. Many Thanks! -Ana
Beautiful post! I love this idea. I love your honesty, bravery, and resilience!
Thank you so much!