In response to a prompt given the gorgeous writer Elizabeth Eslami, whose “Maps” you should go read immediately, a sort of meme is emerging via writerly social networks.
“Here is the question: If you could talk to your 16-year-old self, what would you say? What advice, warnings, or encouragement would you give your younger self?”
Here’s mine.
UPDATED: “Skinless” now appears in Jim Churchill-Dick’s beautiful youth-focused lit journal Torches N’ Pitchforks, in the first annual edition of art by teachers. I’ve removed the text here because I want you to go read over there! It’s just gorgeous.
More letters:
Jill Smith’s “All the cool kids are doing it”
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This is beautiful, Jessamyn. I love that: treasuring the moments of gentleness. I was so bad at that, when I was young.
I loved this…if by loved I mean moved to a trembling mess by the ferocity and beauty of it.
There, now it’s not so naked anymore. Although I personally think naked is good, and skinless even better.
Oh lovely ephemeral excited agitation of a girl/woman whose grace is matched only by her naivete. Please do it all again because you will love who you become and all that other stuff people tell you that says “fear life, don’t get married so often, show some respect for our vaunted wisdom, don’t don’t don’t have too much of – well anything.” Don’t listen to them anymore than you did when you were older talking to your younger self. Even if you can’t really love yourself right now, time will remake you in your own best image, the reflection of ancestors and their lust for life will propel you into your best possible you – again and again.” But, do take that scowl off your face as your mother was right – it does stick after a while.
You are ridiculously talented, Jessamyn Smyth. I love this so.
Thank you, Dale, Arvind, Meg, and Elizabeth-who-started-it all! Prompts don’t usually speak to me, unless my weird reaction leads me off sideways in some unrelated direction, but your piece was so gorgeous, EE, it ignited. I hope the letters spread and more people share them around!
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