Mark - 46

You’re going to make a lot of mistakes, and that’s ok.

In fact it’s impossible not to, if you’re doing anything worth doing, or going through anything worth healing.

It’s gonna hurt and you’re going to hurt others, and that’s ok.

You’re going to learn, probably not the first time, possibly not the twelfth, but you will learn. Patience and grace will come somewhere along the way.

The pain and memories very possibly, won’t get better, and that’s ok.

You’ll learn how to ease them, to lift the clouds for moments of joy and peace.

They’re going to hate it.

No amount of preparation can get you ready to reconcile the vitriol and betrayals of trust, but what you do with it is the true test.

You’re also going to win, a lot, and that’s ok.

Taking W’s has to be as comfortable as staying silent, self love is the cornerstone of living.

It’s going to be messy, sometimes overwhelmingly so, and that’s ok.

You know how to mop up, how to make amends. Do both, sincerely, and often.

The things you care about may not change in your lifetime, and that’s ok.

You know you stand on the shoulders of those that had it five times harder, make it five times easier for those that come next. That’s the job.

You will witness overwhelming evil, and that’s ok.

You’re going to meet it with love and light (eventually, you have some anger issues to deal with first), it can’t hurt you, it comes from hurt and you can help heal it.

People you love will die, and that’s ok.

It will never get easier, but your capability will grow and the moments in life will become more precious.

You’re going to try to leave, and that’s ok.

Because you’ll stay.

I was asked to participate in a very powerful project, the prompt led me to the above, a note to my, or maybe our, teenage self/selves.

Writing without worry of result, brings truth. I share mine with you along with this moment of sadness and resolve, to say that I see your pain, and it’s going to be, ok.

Music - Mark’s music choices during our photo session included, Public Enemy, Aquakultre, Average White Band, Earthgang, Steve Miller, Frank Ocean, Sister Nancy and Hall & Oates.