An open letter to every broken soul and broken inner child

Dear self

Look how far you have come and look at how much you achieved. That once scared, petrified and lonely kid has now grown up and although those dark moments arise, they will pass. I know you took on too much responsibility as a youngster and you took on the weight of the world because you felt like you had to. You felt like since nobody else is doing it, you stepped up. Good on you for stepping up and pulling up those socks.

It's time to forget those days. The stress that you carried way too early in life that it almost robbed you of every opportunity to be happy. The worry about your family, be it financial or their physical health - it's time to let go. The child within you that yearns to laugh as hard as possible but is scared in case the laughter doesn't last or the happiness will slowly fade away, that child is now all grown up and still carries that burden.

Nobody asked you to lift those heavy weights as a child but you volunteered and it came as second nature almost as if you were born to do it. It felt like your calling in life. Those heavy weights now rest on your shoulders and as much as you medicate, the heaviness weighs you down almost like an anchor weighing down a ship. The nervousness that you feel is coming from a time where you thought you weren't capable of much so you doubt yourself and before even trying, you want to quit.

The society we live in now is a mixture of messed up adults that didn't heal their inner child. Their inner child yearns for the love of their mother and if you are lucky to still have yours around, soak up all that love. Your inner child seeks comfort because you sacrificed that growing up. You took care of your younger siblings and even watched over your parents - always striving to be the responsible, diligent and perfect child.

That corrupted you up as an adult. It has put you in a constant state of worry and panic because that's all you have known since being a kid. The unnecessary responsibility you claimed as a child has now caught up with you and you don't know where to put all these emotions. I'm here to tell you it's okay. It's ok to let go now and to finally live a life with both your arms wide open.

That messed up adult needs to heal and grow and flourish into the beautiful rose that has been hinderd all these years. The petals that have fallen off after each disappointment will finally experience regrowth and rejuvenation after everything you have been through. The arguments you heard growing up and slamming of the doors are all in the past now. The screams and fights that you witnessed at your tender age are over. You dont live there anymore. You don't live in that space or time anymore. It's time to let go and heal.

You carried that weight long enough and it's now time to let go. Your parents raised you. What makes you think they can't take care of themselves even at this age? Why are you underestimating their power? They were just fine before you and are fine even after you. Your siblings are all grown up now, young adults as they face the world head on feeling braver than ever. They now carry their own baggage that does not include you or your input.

Dearest inner child, there was a time you would go to bed and think about things beyond your years and that has followed you into adulthood - aren't you tired? There was a time when you were the glue that held everyone together. The glue is still there on everyone's shoulder but it doesn't need for you to reapply more glue as time goes by. The time has come to feel the world and breathe the beautiful air. Your bravery throughout your life did not go unnoticed and your courage has shaped you into the strong person you are today.

That little kid inside of you that craves peace and freedom can finally enjoy it and embrace the wonders of life. It's time to feel happy, content, peaceful and even sometimes silly. The sacrifices you made growing up to make things easier for others has paid off, it has shown you the importance of just how life is and how beautiful it can be - if you let it.

This letter is to remind you that the days of worry are over. The days of sacrifice, stepping up to the plate and being an accountable child are over. Now you are an accountable adult that needs to heal from the trauma of the past. This letter is to remind you that pain isn't forever and nothing bad will happen if you are happy. Don't ever feel like being happy is going to cause a jinx over your life. Be happy and enjoy the warmth of happiness. There is no such thing as limited positivity and limited happiness. It is abundant and yours for the taking.

Whilst all your friends went out, you stayed home to save money that your parents didnt have. You took the cheapest candy because you didn't want to spend too much. You ate all your lunch because you knew you couldn't waste bread. You couldn't go for sleep overs because you felt like you didn't want to leave your parents alone to go and have fun somewhere else. My sweet innocent inner child, you finished all the food on your plate because you know the effort your mother put into cooking it for you.

You wore the same school bad four years in a row because it was a waste of money to get a new one each year. You helped your siblings with their homework and then later at night sat with your own.

My dear inner child, know that you did your best. You stood up when everyone else sat down. You sacrificed your own happiness for the sake of others and you were the child that was the easiest out everyone. You didn't do it because you wanted to, you did all those selfless things because you felt like you had to. It's time to let go and live. Live the best life possible because you owe it to that 16 year old that was forced to grow up too quickly and the 21 year old that had to make money for their family.

It's time don't you think?