Welcome Home to Yourself
As an introduction to the new home of The Purple Thread, here is a letter from me, to me, for you.
Photo and artwork by The Purple Thread
Dear Danielle,
Welcome to The Purple Thread with its new look and feel, carried by the same purpose - to empower.
Remember your former neighbor? The one who was a successful businessman and former addict. Later in life, once in recovery, he made a life change to counsel addicts. He said defining life by work is boring, and that when people ask, “What do you do?” he would respond, “About what?”
It is nice to be defined by a clear, straight-forward title. But at what point does our attachment to that pretty label limit what else is trying to break through? Maybe it is a little scarier to focus on and trust a mission, a purpose, an essence, but maybe it is more genuine. Maybe then, it takes shapes that we never could have imagined.
You are the founder of this space and the teller of many of the stories found here. But beyond that, like all of us, you are a little of this and a little of that. You are a breathing collection of heartache, laughter, and the people you have crossed paths with.
From the beginning, you have been a daughter, sister, the first grandchild, happiest near water, sunshine, and the people you love. At heart, you are a host, giver, balance-lover, consistently collecting experiences to grow.
In your teens, you were a babysitter, half-interested athlete, retail employee, prom planner, volunteer, live music admirer, college student, fashion intern, dating violence victim-survivor-advocate, scared, inspired, founder.
In your twenties, you became a college graduate, tragedy-turned-miracle-observer, storyteller, LLC owner, Manhattan-dweller (the 1-bedroom-flex for two close friends making little money but genuinely happy kind), ex-girlfriend, executive assistant, event producer, problem solver, avid traveler, new girlfriend, bridesmaid, returning NJ resident, fiancé, freelancer, enthusiast of reiki, healing, and paying close attention.
In your thirties, you became a wife (still hard to believe!), in-law, pandemic witness, unemployed, quarantined, Institute for Integrative Nutrition student, seeker and sharer of goodness, even when it’s hard to find.
You have yet to know what you have yet to be. Your knowledge is from what has turned you inside out and upside down, and what lights you up. You are hopeful that what we choose to share will help each other along the way.
Every experience will continue to carry you to where you are meant to be. Welcome home to yourself.
Love,
Comment Prompt:
Have you ever written a letter to yourself? Maybe a past or future version? Or looked at your life in 5-10 year increments and written out a list of what stands out to you? Try it out!