Letters to the Seven Lovers: Part 1 - Dream on!

To the seven lovers, whom I gave pieces of myself. Shaped their worlds as they shaped mine. Each a story, a lesson, or a part of the journey.

To one, the first love, who gave me the power to love at all. Life would have been different. You saw through my awkwardness and childlike demeanor. Gave me the courage to step into the world and find these six other lovers. You were soft on me, but rough on bullies. Whole-hearted, and beautiful in ways the world often fails to recognize. And I adore you simply because you were the first everything. Now I know how to cherish someone, to laugh with them, to hold their hand in the quiet moments. To just ‘be’ with someone. Life drifted apart, but no one forgets the foundation.

To one give I the power to see past the scars on your skin. You have fought a war with your reflection, angry at the imperfections of life’s natural chaos.
To you, I offer patience and simple truths: drink water, eat well, breathe deeply, bask in the natural sun and natural body oils, and stop chasing perfection that does not exist. Your skin isn’t a battlefield but a canvas of life, a living art, painted by resilience and the beauty of natural existence. Each line and mark tells a story, how every different shade and texture can blend into the masterpiece that is you. Through this letter I remind you of what I always told you, that your beauty is not confined to your skin’s smoothness. And I’m glad that with time, you have started to believe me.
Now you wear your imperfections like armor, no longer a victim to society’s cruel lies.

To one give I the power to embrace your smile, to unburden the weight of the masks you once wore—both those tied behind your ears and those you built within your own mind.
I give you confidence.
You had learned to hide your beauty behind silence, behind lowered eyes and the false comfort of invisibility. But I saw you, truly saw you, and told you your smile is like sunlight breaking through a storm. Told you you are beautiful, in the real sense of the word. And that your smile is contagious; maybe that’s why I liked you so much. Your beauty intimidates every guy that tells you your teeth are whichever way. And since they can’t afford you braces nor retainers, your confidence boost shrugged them off and now they awe at your smile. Slowly, you stopped hiding your face with scarfs and insecurities, and you finally smiled like you meant it, as if you own the world with just that one simple gesture.

To one give I the power to dream, to lift your gaze from the familiar safety of the ground and set it upon the vast, shimmering horizon.
You had started to settle, to get comfortable with what mom and dad provided, to not dare, to tread carefully through life. But I saw a fire in you that even you didn’t know you had, and I fanned it into a blaze. Long gone are the days when women would sit at home and shine their husbands' shoes, or take care of the homestead while the man was out scavenging. Times and people have changed. Haven’t you seen the rise in shoe shiners on the street?
Women now fight for their place in society, just as men do. And even though natural justice will never allow a 50-50 balance, women, specifically you, still has a place in society. “You are limitless,” I whispered in your ear the last time we met, and seeing how you’ve grown, I know you believed me.
Now you chase your dreams across cities, towns and homes, fearlessly embracing what once seemed impossible to you. I’m proud. You are proud.

To one give I the power to feel love even across land mass and years.
You are far away, and your laughter is carried only by memory and imagination. Yet, every thought I have of you is laced with care, every action shadowed by my devotion to one day give you a life that you deserve purely out of your genuine heart, and nothing else. I continue to work tirelessly, invisibly, in secret, not just for myself but for you—to ensure your happiness, your growth, your safety. Safe from the evil that is out in the world, but most importantly, safe from a heart that will not love you like you deserve. To you, I give my heart, whole and unshaken, but bruised by the miles.

To one give I the power to breathe through the storms of your mind, to rise above the weight of your anxiety.
You have been drowning in fears that choke your voice and robbed you of your peace. But I held your hand, firm yet gentle, and showed you how to exhale, to release the demons whispering doubt in your ear. I remind you, jaber, that strength is not in cowardly silence but in facing the chaos with relentless courage. I hope you have learned to quiet your mind when it gets too loud, to reclaim the moments stolen by panic, and to find stillness again.

To one, give I gratitude, for having the power to teach me to grow, again, in the real sense of the word.
I consider you my uptown girl, polished and poised, the kind of lady to turn heads wherever. I couldn’t afford to buy you pearls or expensive German chocolate, but maybe one day when my ship comes in, I’ll return your kindness by showing you the kind of guy I’ve always been. With you, I learned the beauty of maturity, of a love that is not about infatuation but partnership. I’ve been challenged by you, inspired by you, wounded by you. With you, I have felt the sharpness of a love tempered by wisdom, a love that made me always want to love yet more and more.

✍🏽Quote of the Week

PS: If you have a few seconds to spare, please hit the <reply> button and let me know what you thought of this email. I’d love to hear your thoughts on it and what could be improved. It also reminds me that there’s another person reading it on the other end of my screen😅. Thanks.

Have a wonderful week ahead!

✍🏽Reagan.