Svitlana Tselishcheva

If I had a chance to write a letter tomy own self but back to the days when the war in Ukraine had just burst out, it would be as follows.

Dear Svitlana,

I know so well how hard it is to remain rational and more or less hopeful in the situation of war. It seems impossible to have a cold mind when emotions are tearing your heart apart. It all seems so unfair, abrupt and insane. Your comfortable and well-settled life has turned into a nightmare and all you can think of is how to survive and live up till the morning to embrace your children one more time.

There is no peace but terror, there is no confidence but despair, there is no place for joy but only place for hatred. But it can’t be any different under such circumstances. Thus, accept your emotions and carry on! You’ll be shocked how sharp and intense some of your feelings can be. It will be hard to accept the thought that you can hate someone so deeply and that your heart can be so fierce cursing those who lay waste in your country, murder and rape! It can be overwhelming, I understand. Don’t blame yourself for this. Ferocity is not your nature anyway, it won’t fully invade your heart. You’ll notice that some other feelings can be even more overwhelming. You will of course realise how passionately and devotedly you can love! You will see how loved and cherished you are by those who are your dearest and closest. You will live through heartbreaking separations and hearthealing meetings over and over again. And it will help you to move on and plan for the future.

Trust me, life will send you lots of amazing people who will support you and give you their shoulder. You will get to know that our world is full of amazing and generous people. You will learn to be grateful again and in every single day you will be able to find dozens of things and events to praise God for.

Please, don’t think you won’t cope with fear, apathy and frustration. You may feel petrified and devastated, but sooner or later you will see how powerful and strong you can be! You’ll learn new skills and you will know what to do.

Be firm and never hesitate that every single word and action can make a difference and become a potent input into something your nation will do to oppose the enemy.

Never stay idle, never wait for someone else to act instead of you! You will have a life-changing experience in the beautiful country you have always dreamt to visit.

God will bring you to a picturesque place somewhere in England and you will learn some wisdom from a total stranger who will become your friend, your helper and personal blessing and miracle. He will open his door to your family and provide you with his tremendous support looking for no benefit for his own. And he will teach you some wisdom. I want you to never forget this wisdom and always follow it in every important choice. One day he will be asked: “Why did you decide to help this family?” The answer will be so short but at the same time so mighty and important: ‘I did it because I could!’

From now on, Sveta, do what you can do! Step by step. Effort by effort. I say this because now i know how doing can help surviving, how being active and involved into something important helps to stay mentally stable. Do what you can for your family and your country. Don’t plan too far, instead fill each day with a fair amount of things to do and live through each day mindfully. Don’t stress yourself out that sometimes you are not doing enough. Rely upon my promise, every single action if it is aimed to create and not to destroy is huge! All the actions taken will bring you where you should be. Don’t lose your hope! Love, Your wiser version of yourself