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Dear, Solimar Torres Matos. My friend, my sister, my twin. Growing up, I knew life was not the best. We had to endure many cruelties of this world. We handle the process of being torn down so differently. I used to think that even though I had you and our memories, life was still not worth living until you showed me otherwise. When I came back from being released after a failed attempt, you did not shout, nor scream. You just held me in your arms, crying, sobbing, showing me that I do matter and that I am loved. I never understood why anybody in this world would ever be unkind to you. You are the epiphany of what it means to be an amazing person. You taught me to have faith, you taught me to let go, to love, to learn, to grow, to embrace and not to give up. I’ve seen you take on so many battles, and through it all, I’ve seen your tiredness, but your strength roared louder than any warrior that has ever been seen.
Soli, you are not just a person I was born with, for me, you are my hero. But not just any hero, you are superman, yes, just like any human, we all have our imperfections, but for me, those flaws or mistakes don’t define you. What defines you is who you are and who you are trying to be. You always strive to be the best of the best, always giving 100% and never less than. Since we were kids, all you have ever mentioned is being a firefighter, but not just because it’s cool to fight fires, but because you can save lives. If that is not the definition of a hero, then I don’t know what is.
My sister almost lost her life after a procedure; she had to be hospitalized and even near her deathbed. Still, she managed to smile, to laugh, to love, to still want to give to others, to still become a hero to others. Thank you for never giving up on me, even when others would have. Thank you for always reminding me to fight with a spirit, thank you for still loving me even after all the countless mistakes I have made. I hope that just like you are here for me, I do the same for you. Even if somehow this book doesn’t make it, then just know this is my heart for you, my spirit for you. The world needs to see just how amazing you are. Thank you for always being you. I love you so much; this is my dedication to you.
Dear my beautiful love Sydney Rae Stewart. I have no words to describe what you mean to me. We have known each other for eight years. But honestly, it has been a lifetime. When I see you, even at your lowest, you have the most remarkable strength that is not shown by loudness but in silence. I’ve seen your rise over and over through sadness, stress, insecurity, and through it all, there you are still having a smile on your breath-taking face. You have grown to be such a strong, captivating, intelligent, hard-working woman and I honestly don’t know if I could be any prouder than I am of you now.
You are the light that always keeps a smile on my face, with you, I never have to worry about what if she judges me, what if I come across too strong, you’ve seen my worst, you’ve seen my highs and lows and still continue to bless me with every moment of your presence. Whatever comes next, just know I will always be here by your side no matter what, because of you. I now know how to truly trust someone, though we are not blood related, we are forever and always connected. Thank you for always being you and thank you for never giving up on me.
The only way I can describe you in the best way possible is honestly not even a flower but a tree, a cherry blossom tree, roots connected in all, within the beauty is a force that cannot be forgotten, it will never just be a memory but a token, a symbol to keep on going forward because even through the harsh winter storms, the tree is still standing and that is what you remind me of. A person with an imaginable strength of not power but of love, joy and kindness. Thank you, Sydney, for always being here for me and I hope that I do the same for you. I love you so much and remember we will always be TTT. This is my dedication to you.
Dear, My sweet, sweet, kind-hearted love, Soleil Jedzrowski. I don’t even know where to begin. You were raised by cruel, unjust and horrid people. But somehow you came out to be such a joyous person. Such love, care for others that is untouchable. God has blessed me, knowing I can have someone like you in my life. When we first met, I saw your quiet struggle, your strength of wanting to push forward, but filled with punishment for the sins of others that were not yours to bear. I am so happy for how far you have pushed, for how much you overcame, for always still caring for others, for doing better yourself, but most of all for not giving up.
I am so glad you didn’t let the cruelty of this world win. You may not know it or sometimes forget that, but you really do make a difference. There was never one moment in my life where I didn’t trust you, where I didn’t feel safe with you. Honestly, everyone needs someone like you in their life, not just for amazing times, but to learn from you. Everyone has their own way of coping, but you, though you were faced with such difficult decisions that you may never be able to turn back to. There you are standing with your head held high, your strength unshaken, becoming a version of you that has always been there but was always hidden.
If I had a way to describe you, it would be a lotus flower. Lotus flowers grow from roots submerged in mud, with stems, leaves, and in due time, they rise above the water’s surface. Showing not just their resilience but their beauty to the world. Saying yeah, look at me, I’m here, and I’m going to make the most of it. I love you so freaking much Soleil and thank you for always trying even when it gets hard, thank you for not giving up, not just on me but on yourself. You honestly truly mean the world to me and I will always be here for you. This is my dedication to you.
Dear My best friend, my brother Matthew Hansen. Through the seven years of knowing you, we have seen each other grow up in the most indescribable way possible. From us playing in church together, having music sessions, to now having jobs and trying to follow our dreams, whether mine is being an author and yours is traveling the world. Words cannot express the gratitude I have when it comes to not just my growth but yours.
Your bravery to take a stand in all that you do, to seek the unknown, to want more of this life has always been something that has motivated me. I have never understood why anyone in this world will ever choose not to be your friend or will ever show you any form of cruelness. You are by far the most patient, kind, amazing and understanding person I have ever known. When I was just beginning to write my book. You didn’t hide away, nor make fun of it. You embraced my story.
You will think that with all the talents and skills you possess, others may want to learn a thing or two from you, but their hate and judgment gets the better of them. But I, for one, will always continue to take a lesson from you, to be kind and to most of all be brave. When you went to Hawaii and went into an unmarked trail and got severely injured. I said, “ Well, now you learned your lesson, don’t go to unmarked trails, you never know what could be there.” You then replied, “I learned my lesson alright, Next time I’ll just wear longer pants.” ‘Yes, of course, at that moment I thought this dude was crazy, but I also thought, well, that’s just Matthew being Matthew. Thank you for always being here for me, for believing in me and for how wonderful you have always been with me. I hope that just like you are here for me, I do the same for you. This is my dedication to you
Dear my best friend, my brother John Quinn. I have known you for five unforgettable years. We met through a mutual friend, talking about our favorite types of music, mainly rock and heavy metal. Since that moment, everything has changed. Both you and I have been there for each other every step of the way. Through my breakup, to you getting confirmed. We both had shared mutual experiences with each other, some I wish never had burned you to begin with. But without judgment, without hatred, here you are. Still risen, greater and better off now than how you were brought up.
Jack, you are honestly one of the greatest friends anyone can ask for. You took a chance on me and believed in me when our friendship was being tested by others. I honestly have been trying to wrap my head around this, around us. I always feel like there is more I could do and should do because, honestly, sometimes I feel like I don’t even deserve someone as amazing, fantastic and great as you. Then I finally came to the realization that the reason I feel like I don’t deserve you is because all my life, I wanted a brother like you. Now that I finally have you, it feels almost too real. Like if in any moment it all could fall apart.
You have shown what a good person is supposed to be but as well have also shown me what a great man is supposed to be. Thank you for believing in me, I am so grateful that these years we have known each other haven’t gone to waste and I am even more thankful that God has allowed us to know one another and continue to grow beside each other. I honestly hope and pray that at least one person has a Jack in their life. A person to make them laugh, to care, to love, to listen. I hope that I am that person to you, as you are with me. Thank you for everything. I love you, bro. This is my dedication to you.
Dear, you crazy cat and animal lover, Yenessa Avalos Maldonado. You are one of my recent friends, but that doesn’t make you any less meaningful to me. Our friendship continues to grow and flourish, from meeting for the first time in a kava bar to freezing to death in your pool to releasing a butterfly in the botanical garden to having you in my life has been a blessing. When we hung out, we sometimes talked about our emotional past, when I mentioned my darkness, or the mistakes I have made. Never once have you judged me. Instead, you showed me kindness, understanding and compassion.
I genuinely feel like you are one of the most driven people I have ever met. The fact that you are not just building a satellite for work but still find the courage to exercise and still want to be encouraged to do more, not just physically, but mentally it’s something incomprehensible. Of course, I am not a computer engineer, so I won’t be able to understand what is truly difficult in your job and what is easy. But the fact that even after working, you said you would like to do little side projects with coding, on top of playing soccer and on top of that playing frisbee just for fun, is extraordinary in my opinion.
Honestly, I want to be just like that, even when you’re tired, you still manage to compose yourself. I can’t wait for us to grow, to understand, to help, and guide one another throughout the years we will have to get to know each other. Thank you for always believing in me, being kind and understanding with me and thank you for trusting me and allowing me to trust you. I hope that I am just as good a friend as you are with me. Sincerely, thank you for giving me a chance. This is my dedication to you.
Want exclusive updates, sneak peeks, and personal notes from me?
Join my newsletter and stay in the loop as I prepare to launch Hugo.