Dear little sister:

It breaks my heart to hear that you have a stressful life. The fact that, at the age of 14, you have to add the term “stressful” to your vocabulary brings tears to my eyes. It breaks my heart that you are stuck in school all day long, just to come home and study for an exam on the next day, for a subject that you can barely focus on because it does not interest you at all.

It breaks my heart that you do not find time to go out into nature, to create, to play, to paint, to sing, to live, and to laugh. That you rarely ever stop to make a wish on falling stars or discover the wonders of this world. It breaks my heart to see you losing contact with yourself—contact with your passions, your joy, and what you want. 

Please, little sister, do not lose sight of your innermost dreams.

Find time to pause, time to rest, time to breathe, time to feel, time to enjoy, and time to wonder. Find this part of you that is guided by your inner intelligence and knows, with absolute certainty, what you are here for. Let this inner intelligence be your guiding light in every decision that you face. 

Do not cease to believe in everything unseen in this world. Our world tries to convince us that something does not exist unless it is scientifically proven—unless you can see it. There are so many secrets hidden in this world that are not seen but felt. If you feel something is real, it is real. 

Rediscover your curiosity—learn, explore, and grow. And as you are growing up, do not let this world harden you. Do not let people reflect their unfulfilled desires onto you. Surround yourself with people who inspire you, who believe in you—people who give you enough space to flourish. People with whom you can be yourself, people who support you in saying what you want, and people who want you to live your wildest dreams. 

Do not believe that something is right, healthy, or desirable because everyone else does so. Have a closer look; try to find out what truly happy people do differently. Not the people who look happy on Instagram. Those people with whom you can feel how happy they are just by being surrounded by them. 

Know that teachers, bosses, and parents are not always right. A lot of times, they pretend to be (but they are not). So if you are sure of something, stick with your own truth, with your own wisdom. Trust yourself (at least as much as you trust them).

Understand that even if your parents always want the best for you (and they really do), they do not always know what is best for you. The only person who knows what is best for you is you yourself. Love them, cherish them, be grateful for them, but make your own decisions. Find out what feels right for you. 

Do not listen to omnipresent dogmas. It is not true that you have to work 50 to 60 hours a week to earn enough money to live a happy and healthy life. It is not true that the ultimate goal is to climb up a career ladder. It is not true that you have to have a university degree in “respectable “studies.

It also absolutely does not matter what your parents or society qualifies as “respectable.” It is not true either that being self-employed means you have to work 24/7. It is not true that work-life has to be stressful. It is not true that it is almost impossible to turn your passion into a job.

The truth is you will be successful with whatever makes your heart beat faster—whatever you are passionate about. You will be happy, healthy, balanced, joyful, and successful when you let your soul’s purpose breathe. There is absolutely no doubt in that. 

Trust life. Trust that it will lead you to wherever you are supposed to be, even if you find yourself in the deepest jungle, even if you struggle with a constant feeling of lost-ness, even if you see yourself falling for the same people over and over again. Life will teach you the exact lessons you need to build up courage and follow your dreams. 

Dear little sister, know that this world is carrying you in its warm arms—no matter what you are doing, no matter where you are going. You are welcome in this world; you are wanted in this world; you are needed in this world.

May your light shine brightly. The world needs it. 

And do not forget that if you have a dream—if you really want something and put all your effort and energy into making it happen—it will happen. The universe is always rewarding those who are truly passionate about something—those who pursue their dreams determinedly. That is a universal law.

I love you from the bottom of my heart.