Dear Jo,

I know it’s not easy right now.
Everything feels like it’s changing, and not always in ways you understand. You might feel confused, maybe even shocked, and most of all, hurt. I know you’re scared too. But you’ll find your way, even if it takes time. Even when you say you’re used to it… I know you’re probably not. I know you’re looking around and asking, Is this normal?
And maybe you’re wondering, Is my normal different from everyone else’s?

You probably feel lonely.
But I know you, you never lose hope. You’ve always had big dreams. And even when others don’t understand your vision or laugh at what you believe is possible, you keep going. It’s going to be hard, yes. But that’s okay. You’ve never listened anyway.

I know you feel small most of the time.
But you don’t want anyone to know that.
You conceal your fears and insecurities with your wit, your big ideas, your big words, and your fire. But let me remind you of this:
It is not your job to fix other people. It’s not your duty to erase their sadness.
You are not responsible for what happened to you.
But you are responsible for who you become.

And trust me when I say, you’ll be okay.

You’ll make mistakes. Some that will break your heart wide open. But those cracks will let the color in and will somewhat make life colorful and fun.. You’ll meet people who feel like home, and just as you find them, life may ask you to let them go. But the memories will stay with you, quiet treasures you’ll keep safe in the corners of your heart.

You may hurt people along the way, but hear me when I say:
You are not a bad person.
You have a beautiful heart, and it shines through, whether or not everyone sees it.
Eventually, you’ll learn how to recognize the ones who truly can.

And when you feel low, like you’re not enough, I want you to go back
Back to that little girl in the field during recess at school.
Remember the way you’d lie in the grass, eyes wide, chasing dragonflies.
The brown ones, the blue ones… but you liked the green ones the most.
You were so focused, so curious, so full of wonder.
You caught them with care, played for a while, then let them go.

Because you were a child who knew how to feel beauty and set it free.
That part of you? It never left.

That’s the part of you that will carry you through.

Your life will be like chasing dragonflies.
The things you want, your dreams, your healing, your place in this world
They may be hard to catch.
You’ll run, you’ll fall, you’ll get lost… but they’re not imaginary.
They are real.
And you will catch them.
Because you always have.

It’s going to be okay, Jo.
You’re going to be okay.

Love,
Yourself