Lọ́ládé, This too shall pass: A Fictional Letter

My dearest Lọ́ládé, as you read this letter, I pray that you know how much you are loved. Despite how things have been, I want you to know you will be fine. I promise you, my dear, this too shall pass.

After our last phone call, it was clear that I needed to remind you of some things.

Do you know that your mere existence is a miracle? I thank God daily for you because your arrival was a surprise and a much needed blessing.

After giving birth, I knew God’s hand was on you. You excelled at everything. You were always at the top of your class at school, and you still collected all the medals on sports day. At some point, I knew I had to enter you into training classes and look at how that turned out. You have now qualified for the Olympics.

This is no small feat, and I have always loved your determination. Your work ethic and passion for training to perform at your best have truly inspired me.

During our last phone conversation, it was clear that you were not yourself. As you are training far away from home, I know things are tough, and the pressure is mounting. I understand how much winning means to you, but in my eyes, you have already won. Your inner peace means so much more than winning a medal. If you are not settled within, it can spill over into your performance.

Lọ́ládé, at times like this, you need to seek counsel from professionals who are well-versed in this kind of thing. I know I have taught you to pray earnestly, but prayer must be joined with action. I have been honest with you about my past struggles as well, and I have been where you are now. I got through my blues with professional help and with years of counselling.

It is good that you confided in me; I know you will get through this. That’s why I have paid for six months’ worth of counselling sessions. As I told you over the phone, this is a serious matter, so tend to it as you would a physical ailment.

From your loving mother,

Why I wrote this

I was inspired to write this fictional letter after watching Simone Biles documentary on Netflix. I have a tremendous amount of respect for all the athletes who ever compete on the world stage. It takes a lot to go out there and try to beat a world record with the whole world watching. It also takes a lot to win or fail while the media sits there and analyses your performance.

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