An open letter to every broken soul and broken inner child

Too often, we find ourselves entangled in the past, weighed down by responsibilities we have taken on since childhood. This column, by explores the journey of letting go, reclaiming joy, and healing from the burdens of yesteryear.

Dear self... 

Look how far you have come and look at how much you achieved. That once scared, petrified and lonely kid has now grown up and although those dark moments arise, they will pass.

I know you took on too much responsibility as a youngster and you took on the weight of the world because you felt like you had to. You felt like since nobody else is doing it, you stepped up. Good on you for stepping up and pulling up those socks.

It's time to forget those days. The stress that you carried way too early in life that it almost robbed you of every opportunity to be happy. The worry about your family, be it financial or their physical health, it's time to let go. The child within you that yearns to laugh as hard as possible but is scared in case the laughter doesn't last or the happiness will slowly fade away, that child is now all grown up and still carries that burden.

Nobody asked you to lift those heavy weights as a child but you volunteered and it came as second nature almost as if you were born to do it. 

The society we live in now is a mixture of messed up adults that didn't heal their inner child. Their inner child yearns for the love of their mother and if you are lucky to still have yours around, soak up all that love. Your inner child seeks comfort because you sacrificed that growing up. You took care of your younger siblings and even watched over your parents - always striving to be the responsible, diligent and perfect child.

That corrupted you as an adult. It has put you in a constant state of worry and panic because that's all you have known since being a kid. The unnecessary responsibility you claimed as a child has now caught up with you and you don't know where to put all these emotions. I'm here to tell you it's okay. It's okay to let go now and to finally live a life with both your arms wide open.

The petals that have fallen off after each disappointment will finally experience regrowth and rejuvenation after everything you have been through. The arguments you heard growing up is all in the past now. The screams and fights that you witnessed at your tender age are over. You don't live there anymore. You don't live in that space or time anymore. It's time to let go and heal.

You carried that weight long enough.

Your parents raised you. What makes you think they can't take care of themselves even at this age? Why are you underestimating their power? They were just fine before you and are fine even after you. Your siblings are all grown up now, young adults as they face the world head on feeling braver than ever. They now carry their own baggage that does not include you or your input.

Dearest inner child, there was a time you would go to bed and think about things beyond your years and that has followed you into adulthood - aren't you tired? There was a time when you were the glue that held everyone together. The glue is still there on everyone's shoulder but it doesn't need for you to reapply more glue as time goes by.

It's time to feel happy, content, peaceful and even sometimes silly. The sacrifices you made growing up to make things easier for others has paid off. It has shown you the importance of just how life is and how beautiful it can be - if you let it.

This letter is to remind you that the days of worry are over. The days of sacrifice, stepping up to the plate and being an accountable child are over. Now you are an accountable adult that needs to heal from the trauma of the past. This letter is to remind you that pain isn't forever and nothing bad will happen if you are happy. Don't ever feel like being happy is going to cause a jinx over your life. Be happy and enjoy the warmth of happiness. There is no such thing as limited positivity and limited happiness. It is abundant and yours for the taking.

Live the best life possible because you owe it to that 16 year old that was forced to grow up too quickly and the 21 year old that had to make money for the family. It's time don't you think?

Kamini Rambridge, a business owner, provides personal insights on mental health wellness through her blog, Mental(it)y Matters, which she launched in 2023. Her initiative not only aims to create awareness but also serves as a therapeutic outlet for her own experiences. Visit https://kamzrambridge.wixsite.com/ mentalitymatters. 

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