Dear Little One,
I hope you are well. I hope that life hasn’t bogged you down. I hope that the words in your head do not reflect the words that you hear around you. I hope that your actions show what you believe rather than what drags your soul to the ground. I hope that you haven’t forgotten what you can do.
It has been much too long since we have spoken. I miss you. Remember when we used to dream of being astronauts and princesses and dinosaurs? Remember when we used to cry when Mufasa died in "The Lion King"? Remember when we used to laugh until we were rolling on the floor, not caring that everyone thought we were annoying? Those moments were the essence of us. They’re still close to my heart. Are they still close to yours?
I’m writing this letter because Mom told me that you’ve changed. She told me that you don’t eat Spaghetti-O’s anymore. She said that you pretend that you don’t like to dance. She said you feel uncomfortable when you say “I love you” and that you gave up on your dream of being the president. When did you stop being you? How long has it been?
Big, big dreams we used to have. Big, big dreams feel much too big now. Much too big for a little one like you. But, oh, little one, remember how we used to sit on the porch and try to count the stars? Remember how small we felt then, too? We felt small and capable. The stars inspired us. They reminded us that there was something bigger than us. Please remember the stars.
Little one, you can do big things. You can do big things because you are not alone. You never were and you aren’t and you never will be again. I can’t tell you that everyone is on your side because actually, everyone is on their own side. But there are people who want to see you do great things. There is a God who turns on the stars every night to inspire you. There is a memory of me that you can find deep within yourself. Don’t you feel the embrace of the wind and the love from the sun?
Little one, please do big things. Please don’t hesitate because you’re lazy or bored or scared. Little one, this world may be for you, but it is for everyone else, too. Do what you can to be gracious. You are not here to complain, not here to be drunk and forget, not here to hate yourself. Why would you ever think that you are? Maybe it’s because you are surrounded by people who do all of those things. But how reliable are people? We can’t even go a few years without turning against Spaghetti-O’s. Little one, I think that you would make a great president. You can do big things, and I know that you will if you channel who you were when it all began.
Remember the stars.
Love always,
Childhood
