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“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” ~ Howard Thurman
A Love Letter to the Hidden Parts of Yourself
For years, I hid parts of myself without even realizing it. I tucked away the mischievous child who loved to laugh, the strong and determined lioness, the tender heart that cried easily, and the dreamer who believed in magic.
The naysayers in my life spoke sharp and dismissive words filled with phrases like “you should be” and “you shouldn’t be.” Somewhere between those words, I learned that being fully myself was too much and so I pushed those parts down just to survive.
Maybe you’ve done the same.
We silence our creativity because someone once told us it wasn’t good enough, toughen up because the world called our sensitivity weakness, and stop dreaming because life taught us to be realistic.
Many of us carry a secret archive of the parts we put away to fit in, to be accepted, and to make it through.
>> The innocent child.
>> The imaginative artist.
>> The tender heart that felt everything too deeply.
>> The bold one who believed in possibilities.
These hidden parts don’t vanish. They wait and resurface as restlessness, anger, frustration, burnout, or that quiet ache that something vital is missing.
The good news is that it’s never too late to reclaim pieces of ourselves, and it isn’t indulgent to do so. It’s necessary. Joy gives us resilience, creativity fuels solutions, and tenderness connects us more deeply with others.
When we keep these pieces hidden, we cut ourselves off from our own wholeness and from the unique light we’re here to bring into the world.
There is a light within each of us that never goes out. Sometimes, it just needs an invitation to shine again.
The reunion with yourself doesn’t have to be dramatic. It can begin with small, intentional acts of tenderness that signal safety and love.
We don’t need to force our lost parts out of hiding. We simply need to create the conditions for their return.
>> Paint—even if no one will ever see it or you don’t think you’re good at it.
>> Sing, hum, or dance—just because it feels good.
>> Write words that may never be read.
>> Plant seeds that may never be seen.
>> Speak honestly with someone you trust.
Every act of tenderness toward yourself is a welcome mat for the parts that have been waiting to return. Each small gesture whispers …
It’s safe to come home.
A Love Letter to My Lost Parts
Dear lost parts,
I remember you.
I honor you.
I need you.
I promise to protect you now—to make room for your laughter, your wonder, your tenderness, and your creativity.
You don’t have to stay hidden any longer.
Come home. The world is waiting for the light only you can bring.
With love,
The Self that never stopped hoping we’d be whole again.
~
Reflection Prompt
Take a quiet moment to ask yourself:
>> What letter can I write to the lost parts of myself?
>> Which part of me has been waiting to return?
>> What is one small act I can take today to welcome it home?
Those hidden pieces of yourself are not gone, and when you welcome them back, you don’t just heal yourself.
You help heal the world.
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” ~ Anaïs Nin
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