The Mindful Migraine

Late last year I read a lovely post over on the blog Urban Wellbeing Tips, which was titled “Sunday letter to my younger self what I know now”. The idea of such a letter is not a new thing, but Rohitash has a lovely way with words, so be sure to read the whole post on the link above, but here’s the opening to put you in the mood:

“You’re still learning to walk through fire without burning your soul. You think success is a trophy, love is a transaction, and forgiveness is weakness. You’re wrong—but beautifully so…”

While I had this letter in my mind, the Universe sent me another letter-mention, this time in an email from my migraine-friend Amber (who published a book last year – read more here). Amber spoke of how she used a visualization trick to help her stay positive in her healing: she imagined her future self, happy and healed, and it was that version of herself that wrote a letter to her current self who was still struggling.

It’s hard to explain, partly because the time-travel genre and all its grandfather-paradoxes makes my head spin (although I love it) – but I’m sure you know what I mean: the (undoubtedly) migraine-pain-free Linda of 2036 writes a letter to the still-not-so-great 2026-Linda to encourage her to be a patient patient… healing will come.

I decided to give it a go, but quickly, roughly, without over-thinking it too much… because sometimes I think the first draft is the truest.

Here’s what I wrote:

Dear Linda,

Firstly, I want to tell you that I am so proud of all the progress you have made to pull yourself out of that deep, dark, chronic-migraine hole that you found yourself in for more than three years… I shiver at the memory of it all (and still wear a mouthguard at night to protect the three ceramic teeth that we have thanks to the worst migraine ever!)

Secondly, I want to acknowledge the difference that your efforts have made for others as well as yourself. Your family benefits, but so do the strangers that you meet and speak to about your experiences, warts and all, in the shopping lines, hairdressers, carparks and your blog. As a shy person (still) I know how hard it is to step out and speak up, but know that all the echoes that reverberate back to you will turn your fear of failure into a distant memory. All those head nods and whispered thank you’s will hold you up and keep you going – so remember that the next time you are faced with a challenge that you would prefer to hide from.

Lastly, take the experience, the darkness, the grimness, and all the sh!tty struggles that you have now and know that they are, like a trial by fire, shaping you, transforming you for the future – as painful as that might seem. You are stronger than you could ever imagine, and one day you will look back on this period of time, not with affection (never), but with a new-found respect for yourself: YOU helped heal yourself and as such, you are mighty.

Stay true to yourself, and be good to others (the world needs kindness as much as ever where I am in 2036) – positivity and generosity always have, and always will have, a ripple effect that makes the world a better place.

Keep going and keep growing.

Love to you, from me, now, always, Linda x

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Short and sweet. I’m sure I will think of a million more things that I wish I had said (the same way I always do about 2 minutes after I leave a conversation!?!) – but I’m content. Re-reading it gives me a happy-glow… I got this… I CAN heal.

And so can YOU.

Take care taking care my dears,

Love Linda x

*

PS – If trying to wrap your head around being a future-version of yourself is giving you a migraine, then I’ve also experimented with writing a love letter to myself in the here and now which worked very well (read more here). Or you could always write a letter to your younger self as Rohitash did. Make sure if you are writing to your past, that you be kind; no reprimands, blame or guilt for how you’re feeling today – make sure it is a letter of love that focuses on the good so that it will help you heal. xx