A Letter to My Childhood Self,
Your joy is hardwired into a tangled and cluttered mainframe.
It undoubtedly will be you're saving grace.
Occasionally, you may think it has vanished... it has not.
You will never cease to rekindle it.
Boy, take more time to spend with momma.
You are her world, passion, and her light.
Her love will be the shield that will protect you from the dragons to come.
The wings and snouts on these Dragons will vary,
yet their fire will always scald just the same.
Let their fire fuel you,
never dictate or damage you.
One day you'll notice, the meanest people
have the greatest hurt;
be the healer, not the inflictor.
Blood is thicker than water,
if spilled,
one stain becomes much harder to purge.
Steer clear of life's tainted truths,
they have become infected with the resentment of others.
Don't give up at the first signs of misfortune,
and don't lose the principles you were imparted with either.
Doubt will always run deep in you,
but your faith is rooted far deeper,
in a soil that is rich and ever righteous.
Even the finest soil will sometimes need a little rain,
that's nature, not weakness.
Laughter defeats even the most powerful of burdens,
it is also much better for your complexion.
If "Bless You're Heart" is spoken in your presence,
great caution should be taken. Seriously.
If they care about you,
they won't have to tell you -- you'll know by the feeling deep within.
Eradicate your fears.
Trust yourself and strive for authenticity.
Come what may, you are destined for magnitude.
Love you to the Moon and back, boy.
Sincerely,
Andrew Isaac Burrill
P.S. Coffee contains magic from the gods, bills are meant to always be paid on time, and sometimes you really do talk too much -- try to work on that. (Even though I know you probably won't).
This article by Andrew Burrill was originally written as an essay in Professor Vanessa Ochs' "Spiritual Writing" course at the University of Virginia.