storytellers vs. hate | by guest columnist tequetia haskell
Haskell lives in North County with her beautiful wife, Nikki and their fur baby Halo. She has been writing since she was 13 and singing since she was 9. She is currently battling Crohn’s disease but aspires to be a full-time recording artist, when her health is in a better place. Her artist name is Flyella The Great. She hopes that the sounds she creates will uplift and inspire people from all generations.
Follow Haskell
YouTube: @Flyella-Official
Facebook: Layde Te Haskell (Flyella The Great)
Instagram: @flyella_official
Tiktok: @flyella_official
As I sifted through topics to write about, I was filled with a heavy heart. I brainstormed for days because I didn’t take this opportunity to write lightly. I decided to write this in the form of a letter to my younger self. A younger self who was a lot less self-assured and a lot less confident. This is a letter to my younger self, to encourage you.
Dear TeQuetia,
You may not always go by this name, but when you do, know that your name is beautiful. You have the choice to decide what this name will mean and signify.
Many things will be said to you to distract you from your destiny. Your gifts will be diminished, and you will be made fun of for having big dreams. Keep dreaming, keep believing in yourself, and keep practicing; you are meant to be great. You will find your voice and you will one day be proud to be you. There will be times where you will prove yourself stronger than you know, keep doing that over and over. Keep defying odds and tackling the hard things first; that hard work will compound.
You might hear talks of a closet. But know, it’s your closet, and coming out is something you have to decide for yourself. Keep seeing the best in people despite the people closest to you always letting you down.
You have a complicated relationship with your family right now. I would love to say that it gets better or even that it will get worse before it gets better. To be honest, I’m not sure if I can say they did the best they could. Truly that’s for them to decide. What you have to decide is to love them anyway. You will grow to learn what you will and will not put up with from anyone. If you can’t be yourself and still receive love, then you aren’t getting real love in that relationship.
They may be the first people to break your heart but don’t allow this to keep you from loving and trusting in others. You matter and you ARE enough.
One day you will find someone who hears you and sees you in all the ways you would want to be seen. Their love and the love of your chosen family will wrap you up with all the warmth you didn’t know your heart needed to feel.
Inspire Your Transformation
An apple true fell, from a bush that thought it was a tree; so did we.
A butterfly’s journey transformed to life.
Strength through strides as it learns to fly; so do we.
Beauty the day brings and the quiet the night sets.
Love is you, and love in you is true. Love for hearts who long; so do we.
Wonders of the sky and every depth of the oceans,
Willow break and doves sing
for those who have holes that hurt can’t fill; so do we.
Gatherers of love be sweet to the apple; For one seed makes a tree; so do we.
— with love and grace,
TeQuetia D. F. Haskell
Haskell lives in North County with her beautiful wife, Nikki and their fur baby Halo. She has been writing since she was 13 and singing since she was 9. She is currently battling Crohn’s disease but aspires to be a full-time recording artist, when her health is in a better place. Her artist name is Flyella The Great. She hopes that the sounds she creates will uplift and inspire people from all generations.
Follow Haskell
YouTube: @Flyella-Official
Facebook: Layde Te Haskell (Flyella The Great)
Instagram: @flyella_official
Tiktok: @flyella_official