Better Days

Dear older Shaw,

 Good morning…is it, morning? I hope despite the success, you still read emails and letters in the morning. I wonder whether people still send letters in 2030. Well, regardless of whether you’re reading this or it’s being read out to you by some robotic voice…I just wanted to tell you that, you made it…you are on top of the mountain, heck if you managed to achieve even half of the goals you set for yourself…you are the mountain.

Do you remember when this crazy fairy tale started, oh how life was strange back then…is strange the perfect word to even use? How about, more relatable, less complicated, easier? Who am I kidding, that last one was not the case, but regardless of how you would describe it, I hope that it paints a picture of two very different worlds.

Am quite sure that by the time you read this, your life will have changed in more ways than I can even begin to comprehend, but as I write this am still in grandma’s house trying to figure out where I am and where am headed. To be honest, I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t scared of the future. What I would give to get a sign from you or the universe telling me that I’m on the right path. Even though life is tough now, trust me when I tell you that I will persevere no matter what. You know what they say ‘What doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger.’

I have a feeling that your future will be much better than my present, and as such, I’ll stay true to myself, and no matter how blurry the target gets, I’ll stay focused and determined. The thought of you reading this on an island or a half a million-dollar yacht gives me the strength to carry on and rise with each sun, knowing that each huddle is only an illusion. It’s like what mum used to say, “trials, temptations, and huddles are not things that should tie you down rather they should be used as stepping stones or ladders to help you better understand yourself and those around you.”

I’m sorry if am talking to you as if you’re a different person, the truth is, I don’t know what to say not knowing whether you will open this letter 5, 10, or 25 years from now. You might even be reading this at 111 years old ready to cross over to the afterlife. Anyways, I know Qs and As were never your cup of tea, but if things changed in the future, I am glad you overcame your fear of being under the spotlight.

Before I started writing this I promised myself that I would keep the questions to a minimum but, there are just so many questions I have, did you and Bianca ever patch things up, what about all those trophies you set out to win, and that project about starting a free school for the less fortunate. I, or rather we, have never been patient individuals…did that change?

Ok…enough questions…well probably just one more…

Are you happy?

Am not talking about material happiness, though it would be nice to know whether all those programming projects that kept you up till the wee hours eventually paid off. P.S I hope they did fingers crossed.

 Am talking about you as an individual…do you have peace of mind? Remember the old mantra ‘Success is having peace of mind and being healthy both physically and spiritually’ something I hope is in abundance in your life.

I hope you met someone you cherish and who loves you for who you are. I know you promised that you would be a bachelor for life, but as I write this, there is a commercial on the telly about how ‘no man is an island,’ and how ‘we all need someone,’ and somehow regardless of what we promised ourselves after that girl stood us up at prom…I guess we all need something or someone to keep us company. And am not talking about writing.

Come to think of it, do you still write…if not, please go back to it…writing was how you made sense of this crazy world and in a way, kept you sane during those dark times. If there is one thing that I sincerely pray that you never stop doing is writing, even if you never get published. Remember publishing only makes you an author but writing not only makes you a better writer but, in your case, calmed your mind.

Talking about calm minds…do you still take nature walks? Do you go for walks or did you invent some A.I / Meta universe where all you need is to strap in and go for a virtual walk? I know we’ve been tech geeks since day one but lemme assure you, nothing man-made will ever beat Mother Nature’s touch.

I would give anything to have a sneak peek at your life…I wonder how much you’ve grown both physically and mentally. I know a majority of this letter has been me ranting on about things I hope you still do. You probably took a different approach to life altogether. You probably stopped coding and decided to become a chef, you probably chose to take writing seriously and you are probably a world-renown author or screenwriter, you probably stopped watching movies, and anime and no longer game. P.S if this last part is true, then I know you died long ago and this letter will probably never be opened.

Regardless of whatever path you chose to follow, or whichever new goals you set for your life, I hope you achieved them or are on route to doing so. 

And if you’re reading this letter whilst in between a rock and a hard place, it’s my hope and prayer that you find a way out. If there was one word that I can use to describe you it would be… Survivor. You, SHAW KNIGHT, have been through and weathered multiple storms to get to where you are, so regardless of whether things are ok or not, I want you to repeat these words…I AM STRONGER THAN I KNOW and NOTHING OR NO-ONE CAN PUT ME DOWN.

Lastly, no matter what situation you are in right now, stay strong, chin up, and keep smiling, and whenever in doubt, remember who you are, fix your crown, and soldier on.

Much Love, 

 Younger Shaw.