Dearest Peace,
You are easily one of my favorite humans. I have a sweatshirt with the saying, “Peace is the ultimate expression of wisdom,” and I can’t help but think that you are the embodiment of this saying. Every time I wear it, I feel like it’s your name stitched across my chest. You’re turning a year older, and it feels like the world is crashing in. Let it. That’s how new things are born. It might seem like you’re chasing your dreams and desires, and the harder you chase, the further they move away. Don’t stop. Don’t you ever stop. Did you know that sharks die if they stop moving? Well, you’re not a shark, but still—keep moving forward.
I want to remind you of something you already know: You are beautiful. You are worth it. You command every room you walk into, and you give the best K-drama recommendations (seriously, send another recommendation my way). Hold on to that. Don’t lose yourself in the noise.
A few years ago, stuck in a funk similar to the one you’re finding yourself in, I stumbled upon a post on Quora that really stuck with me. It said everything you’re doing in your early twenties is building momentum. You know the physics laws about momentum, that Newton’s first law. Just like Newton’s First Law of Motion—once you build momentum, you’re unstoppable. Keep moving forward, even when it feels like the world is pushing back. Things are always in motion, and so are you.” Quora can be full of questionable advice, but sometimes you find a solid gem. All the jobs, internships, gigs, and books you’re interacting with right now are building your momentum for something. There will be moments when you look back and realize how all these pieces have moved you forward. Keep at it. Keep moving. Stay encouraged.
One of my favorite poems by Charles Bukowski titled “The Laughing Heart” says, “Your life is your life, don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission.
be on the watch. There are ways out….” I come back to it every time when I need to go all the way. And even when it feels like things are falling apart, find joy in the little things. Keep a little part of the magic for yourself. You have such a big heart, and you share it so freely with the world—don’t forget to keep a little bit of that love for yourself. When the world gets too much, retreat to your safe space and witness your own magic.
Beyond your magic, keep more for yourself: your love, your kindness, your charity, your hard work. You should be the first beneficiary. Let yourself be the one who benefits most from your own efforts.
As you grow older, remember this: you will need your friends. Those women who started as strangers but became your sisters. Keep them close, and build your community with intention. It could be dinner once a month, a Tuesday video call, or a special greeting. On most days, that bond will be your sanity. Keep it special. It’ll be your lifeline.
And above all, fight to keep hope with you. It will be the hardest battle you fight. But hope will be your anchor. Don’t ever let it go. Hope is the hardest love we carry.
Say yes. Say it a lot. There will be years when you look back and realize that you were the only obstacle standing in your own way. Life feels long when you’re sad. So, say yes to adventure. Say yes to risky texts. Say yes to friends who randomly ask you to go to Zanzibar on New Year’s Eve. Movies tell us that better times are ahead, but truthfully, awesome times are right here with us. We keep postponing awesome, waiting for better. Don’t do that to yourself.
Your body will keep changing. You’ve yet to meet the full version of yourself. Go with the flow. Lean into it. You’ll learn a lot about your body through experience. Take the time to understand it. And always remember—your body is fighting for you, not against you. She’s been your companion since day one. Work with her. Love her.
Speak kindly to yourself. As we get older, we often become our harshest critics. But you have to speak to yourself with the same kindness you would offer your dearest friend. Start every day reminding yourself of the truth—that you are beautiful. You are awesome. You are full of purposeful and well in your timeline. You are positively aligned. You are divine. Those truths will carry you, especially on days when you can’t find the words to pray. Lean on the prayers of those of us who love you.
And lastly, I’ll leave you with a poem I recite to myself all the time: Invictus by William Ernest Henley. It ends with, “I am the captain of my fate. I am the master of my soul.”
Remember—you are loved. You are awesome. Now go into the world and be the main character.
With all my love,
Loch.