6. The Creativity We Carry: A Letter to My Younger Self
You don’t know it yet, but you’re going to leave your art behind for a while. Not because you don’t love it. Not because it wasn’t real. But because the world around you will get loud—and your creative voice will seem too quiet to matter. But it does matter. And I’m writing from the future to tell you… you never really lost it.
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Words of Support to My Younger Self
Dear Younger Me,
You don’t know it yet, but you’re going to leave your art behind for a while.
Not because you don’t love it.
Not because it wasn’t real.
But because the world around you will get loud—and your creative voice will seem too quiet to matter.
But it does matter.
You matter.
And I’m writing from the future to tell you… you never really lost it.
You Were Never Wrong for Wanting More
You’ll feel it when you’re young—that pull toward something magical. Stories, songs, images that come to you uninvited. You’ll try to make sense of them, to capture them on paper or tape or in whispered daydreams. It’ll feel like flying.
But you’ll also start to hear other messages:
“Be realistic.”
“That’s not a career.”
“You’re too sensitive.”
“That’s a cute hobby, but what’s your plan?”
And because you want to be loved, to be taken seriously, you’ll try to let go.
You’ll try to follow the rules.
You’ll do your best to be good.
I see you. I love you for that.
But I want you to know—it was never wrong to want more.
It was never silly to dream.
That part of you was sacred, not naïve.
The Detour Wasn’t a Mistake
You’re going to choose a safer path.
You’ll take jobs that make sense on paper. You’ll show up, work hard, succeed in the ways people measure success. But somewhere along the line, you’ll start to feel distant from yourself. Like you’re performing a version of a life, rather than living your real one.
You’ll think you abandoned creativity, but the truth is—you carried it with you all along. Quietly. In the margins. In your longing.
Even when you didn’t write, your words were waiting.
Even when you didn’t paint, your colors remembered.
Even when you didn’t sing, your voice was only resting.
It never left you.
It just waited.
There’s Still Time
One day, later than you expected, you’ll feel the call return—not loud at first, but steady. It will come in the form of curiosity, restlessness, or joy you can’t explain. You’ll wonder, Can I really go back?
The answer is yes.
You can go back.
You can go forward.
You can begin now.
And when you do, it will feel like home.
Not because you’re as skilled as you once were, but because you’re honest now. Because you know how it feels to lose your voice—and how beautiful it is to reclaim it.
What I Know Now
You never needed to be perfect.
You only needed to stay open.
You didn’t have to wait for permission.
You only needed to trust the part of you that felt most like you.
If I could reach back in time, I’d wrap my arms around your shoulders and say:
Don’t be afraid to keep that notebook.
Don’t apologize for wanting something different.
And never, ever let anyone convince you that you are too late.
Because you are just getting started.
Love,
Your older, creative self
The one who found her way back
If This Resonated With You…
Try this: Write a short letter to your younger self. You don’t need to share it with anyone. Just write from where you are now, and offer the compassion you once needed.
Reflect on this:
What would you say to your younger self about the creative life? What promises do you want to make to your current self going forward?
You have always been a creative person. Even when you didn’t create. Even when you were surviving.
And now, you get to come home to that truth.
Are you curious about supporting yourself with words of encouragement & embracing your unique expression? Here are a few books that we recommend to dive even deeper into this subject:
Letters to My Future Self: Write Now. Read Later. Treasure Forever by Lea Redmond
Burn After Writing by Sharon Jones
What to Say When You Talk to Yourself by Shad Helmstetter
How to Be Your Own Best Friend by Mildred Newman & Bernard Berkowitz
Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Dr. Kristin Neff
The Gifts of Imperfection: 10th Anniversary Edition by Brené Brown
Embrace Your Weird by Felicia Day
Coming soon - Post # 7: “You’re Allowed to Take Up Creative Space”