🌈 A Letter to the Young Ones Who Stop to Talk
By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita
Lately, while painting my mural, I’ve had the honour of meeting some truly beautiful young souls.
You stop.
You look.
You speak.
You share.
And in those moments, something sacred happens.
So many of you are carrying more than anyone should.
You’ve seen things on the internet no one should ever see.
You’re growing up in a world that feels confusing, violent, and often unfair.
You’re doing your best to make sense of it, to stay kind, and to survive.
This letter is for you.
💌 Dear Beautiful Souls,
Thank you for stopping by.
For saying hello.
For admiring the mural.
For talking with me—really talking.
Every time you share your story, your kindness, your struggle, your curiosity…
you give me hope.
The world right now can feel so heavy.
So broken.
Sometimes it seems like cruelty is winning. But then you show up.
And I remember that love still lives.
I’ve seen storms.
I’ve lost people I love, including a trans family member to suicide.
I know how grief, fear, and injustice can weigh on your heart.
I see the “catch and release” cycles, the violent headlines, the deep wrongs in our systems.
I’ve seen how the internet, once filled with promise, is now flooded with darkness.
You didn’t create this mess, but you’re doing your best to live in it.
And I want you to know:
🕊️ You Matter.
Not for what you produce.
Not for how many followers you have.
Not for your appearance or performance.
You matter because you are human.
You feel. You care. You dream.
🌱 You Are Allowed to Grow.
You don’t have to have it all figured out.
You can change your mind.
You can make mistakes.
You can rest.
Tears are not weakness—they’re truth, and they’re healing.
🌈 You Are Not Alone.
There are still people who care.
Maybe you find them in unexpected places:
A stranger, a mural artist, a kind soul who simply says, “You good?”
Keep those threads. They are lifelines.
🔥 You Are Powerful.
Not because you yell the loudest—
but because you witness, feel, and refuse to numb out.
You care in a world that teaches you not to.
That’s power.
Some days, I want to hide.
But I keep showing up because of you.
Because I believe in your future.
Because I’ve seen your spark.
“Even a small light can guide others through the dark.”
— Yours might be the only light someone sees today.
So shine, softly or boldly. However you can.
You're doing better than you know.
And I’m so grateful you stopped to talk.
With all my heart,
Tina Winterlik (Zipolita)
🦋💙✌️🌻
#YouthVoices #MuralStories #HopeLives #Zipolita #LetterToTheFuture
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