A letter from Oct 21, 2025

Dear Me, (One Year From Now), Hey you. Yes — I’m talking to the version of me who’s made it one full year further down the path. First of all, I’m proud of you. I hope you're reading this from a place that feels safe, grounded, and maybe even a little unfamiliar in the best way — like progress. Right now, things are hard. Emotionally messy, confusing, heavy. Home doesn’t always feel like a sanctuary — and some days, it feels like it never did. My brother’s assault left a crack in everything, and that trauma still sits in my body, heavy and unpredictable. My sister’s words — sharp and scrutinizing — often make me question myself more than I already do. But even through all of this, I’m learning. I’m growing. Slowly, awkwardly — but I am. I'm writing to you in a season where I’m holding on tightly to a few powerful, bright things. One of them is the hope that joining the Air Force in May will be a turning point — a reset button. A place to grow, to be challenged, to meet new people from completely different walks of life. People who see me for who I am, not who they think I should be. I want to be tested, stretched, and shaped into someone I can be proud of — someone tougher, wiser, more capable… but also softer where it matters. I don’t expect the pain to magically disappear. But I do believe — really believe — that healing from the domestic violence I’ve experienced is possible. That the scars will turn into something useful. Maybe even beautiful. I want to be the person who can say: “I’ve been through the fire, and it didn’t burn me down — it forged me.” I want to carry that strength with humility. I want to know danger and still choose compassion. That sounds like a superpower, doesn’t it? And let’s not forget the dream: to build relationships that are fulfilling, practical, mutual — full of challenge, elevation, and real support. People who pour into me, and who I can pour into, too. No more surviving on emotional crumbs. I want to feast with people who feed my soul. Now, let’s talk about God — because wow, I don’t even know where I’d be without Him right now. This year, that relationship has been the life raft. In moments when I felt like I couldn’t even hope for myself, God stepped in and carried the hope for me. I want to keep building that relationship. Not out of obligation, but out of love. Because He showed up when no one else could, and I want to keep showing up for that kind of presence in my life. So, future me — how are we doing? Did we follow through with the Air Force? Did we meet people who saw us, challenged us, laughed with us, stood by us? Are we still growing? Still healing? Still laughing at dumb jokes, still crying when it’s real, still praying like it matters? Whatever the answers are — I just hope you’re still choosing you. Even on the hard days. Especially on the hard days. With love, grit, and just a little bit of sarcasm, Me (but the 2024 version)