A Gentle Reminder from the Past

This morning, while I was putting my grandson’s school trousers in the wash, I found an empty Monster Munch wrapper in his pocket. In that small, crinkled wrapper, a memory surfaced from my own childhood — a time when I was often sent to school without any tuck. That might seem insignificant, but when you’re young and just want to fit in, wee  things like this can carry a heavy weight.

As we become adults and are expected to be responsible, successful and have our s**t together, we forget that our experiences live on in us, not as burdens to “let go of,” but as quiet lessons and reminders, waiting to be heard. They shape our spirit, teaching us where we’ve come from and where we’re going. That empty wrapper reminded me of the parts of myself that needed gentleness and love. Sometimes, healing is less about leaving things behind and more about embracing these hidden moments with compassion.

We are all carrying memories that shaped us, guiding us on a path to deeper understanding. So today, take a moment to honour the child within you, the one still holding dreams and hopes close, the one who’s been waiting patiently for your kindness and remind yourself that as an adult, you are doing your best and that's good enough.

Standing there with that empty wrapper, I was reminded that it seems only yesterday, that we were children ourselves — running around the playground, with (or without) an empty Monster Munch packet in our pockets, and just beginning to find our way.

Be gentle with yourself. You are exactly where you need to be.