Reading that email was one of the most fulfilling days of my life. When I was starting my writing journey 15+ years ago, I found myself sometimes struggling with how overly vulnerable I was when sharing some of my stories. Although I’ve grown much wiser now and write with more tact, I’ve since realised that people seem to connect easily more with someone who seems real and authentic than someone who seems to only show that they have everything together all the time.

Deciding to write a book on my journey from 4 American prisons was a decision that came with some backlash from some key people in my life. One of my favourite relative even suggested that the title was a risky one that will bring more negative feedback than positive responses. She suggested I change the name to *How God Has Brought Me Thus Far*. I laughed in the Japanese when she gave me that title. I thanked her for her counsel and proceeded with the title I felt strongly about: FROM PRISON TO PHOTOGRAPHY.

A few months after the book was released in 2022, I got the following email that touched the core of my heart. It’s because of feedbacks like this that motivates me to continue writing. I’ve even had to renegotiate with God to increase my time on earth by about 10 years because there’s still so much books to write.

I’m sharing this to encourage you to be bold (with wisdom and tact) in sharing your story regarding whatever life challenges God has helped you overcome. You have no idea how many lives are waiting to be transformed by it. Although we seem to have more stories shared bordering on how God brought us from poverty to riches, I feel there are so much more life victories that can be shared to encourage someone.

If you’ve lost a loved one and dealt with how to handle the loss, share your story. If you’ve successfully paid back all the online loan apps that you owed money and you’re back on your feet as a debt-free,/ citizen, write your story. If you were once a sister of Satan and God has translated you from that family bloodline to one with a glorious future and you have fruits to show for it, share your story. If you were once a lesbian and God has dealt with you and you’re a transformed person, share your story. If you use to smuggle cocaine from country to country and was eventually caught and spent a decade in a foreign government prison and now you’re a transformed person, share your story.

In many cases, wisdom and tact will be needed in sharing some stories and I’ve even had to counsel some people to turn their stories into novels or fictionize some key characters in the story. Either way, the story is being told and at least one life will be impacted.

I’ve attached a copy of some parts of the email the person sent to me (with his permission). Reading the email gave me the encouragement to keep sharing my story knowing very well there are countless people going through what I went through 2 decades ago and what I’m currently going through. Let me know your thoughts after reading this Inspirational Email From a Former Drug Addict.

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