A Letter to Myself…15 Years Ago

You ask for innovation, but you're not willing to risk losing what you already have.

You ask for revolution, but you want others to do it for you.

You ask for evolution, but you’re not ready to leave behind what you’ve been taught about who you’re supposed to be.

So what’s left but to imitate what others do?

And I understand, you have bills to pay. You lack confidence. You don't fully believe in your ideas. It's more of a wishful thought, a dream that could come true if only... (complete the phrase to yourself, there's no wrong one).

But have you realized that you're in the exact same place you were when you were seventeen?

That while the world moved forward, you buried yourself in “success”? Money, travel, speeches, dinners, and yet...

You're still that kid crying in your room, wondering how to speak your truth.

That was the day you decided to bury your dreams.

And I understand, you acted out of fear.

Fear of being exposed as different.

Fear of being an impostor.

You were alone with the voices in your head:

“Who am I to challenge this?”

“It's wrong to feel this way.”

So you chose to do what others do.

To disappear into the crowd and silence the voices.

It's easier to copy a mediocre plan and stay among mediocre people.

But what you really did was exchange your truth for their lie.

You buried yourself a little deeper every day until one day you realized;

You never existed.

You just lived someone else’s life.

And now I know what you're thinking:

"Okay, enough, I get it. But even if I stand up, even if I speak my truth, people will vilify me, laugh at me, isolate me. How can I exist like that? How can I handle it? Yes, I’m afraid. I feel weak. So, what you're saying is a romantic dream, far from reality. You're just another voice I need to silence."

Yes. I am another voice.

Your voice.

Deep in your mind, I know you’re waiting for someone to ease your pain, to give you a magic solution, a map to follow, a bullet-point list that guarantees you’ll be okay if you stand out.

But here's the truth.

There is no map. Not even a virtual one. And there is no prince charming at the end of the road.

There’s only that itch in your gut that won’t stop until you speak your truth.

And if you don’t. Even if you silence me, you’ll always know that I exist, and that you chose to leave me behind in that room.

But If you choose not to silence me, I can give you one reassurance.

If you do it, you’ll realize you’re not alone.

It’s like being in a storm. You jump above the clouds, and suddenly you realize the sun is still there, warm and makes you feel alive.

It’s like standing in the center of a tornado, where everything moves around following the stream, but in the center, everything is calm, peaceful, and in harmony.

So I dare you!

Jump.

Lift your head above the clouds.

Open your eyes.

See how many others are out here, waiting to connect, to co-create, to believe in your vision and you to believe in theirs.

All that’s missing… is you.

I won't give you a safety net.

Maybe you'll fall.

Maybe it will hurt.

But I promise you,

That one second you breathe above the cloud, see the view, and meet others like you, is worth more than a lifetime of pretending to fit in.

Will you jump?