I started working on this project in 2017, after reading several news stories about young people dying by suicide as a result of bullying in school. These stories resonated with me because I had been bullied in middle school and contemplated that course of action myself.

I was between jobs at the time, having just moved to a new town (again!) and still learning the lay of the land, so to speak. To keep my mind occupied and my writing skills sharp, I began writing letters to my middle/high-school-aged self, giving him perspective on his situation from a future vantage point – the back porch of the house I was renting at the time. ➡️

As I dug deeper into my memory bank, more questions presented themselves. Before long, I had a handful of letters with nobody to send them to. I shifted gears a bit and began writing to my nephew, Ivan, who reminds me very much of myself at that age. As the project expanded, I added new topics and discussions that I wish I’d had access to when I was in high school. I decided to compile these letters into a book with the goal of helping young men navigate their path to self-discovery and develop the tools to mitigate anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts along the way.

My ultimate goal and mission is to use this platform, and the book itself, to let readers know they’re not alone in their experience!