We all have that one person in our lives who we’ve never quite been able to forget. For some of us, it’s the person who got away. The one who we had a connection with, but for one reason or another, it just didn’t work out. This is a collection of stories about those unsent messages to Jess.
“Unsending” a message may seem like the best way to take back an embarrassing or regrettable text, email, or social media post. But before you hit that “unsend” button, you should think about the potential consequences.
Why did you unsend that message to Amber? She was really looking forward to hearing from you.
It’s 3 a.m. and you can’t sleep. You decide to check your phone, even though you know you shouldn’t. As you scroll through your social media feed, you come across a post from Casey. It’s a picture of her and her new boyfriend, looking happy and in love. You feel a pang of envy and jealousy, quickly followed by guilt. You click on the message icon and start typing out a long, angry message to Casey. But you never hit send.
Why do we do this? Why do we write messages to people that we never intend to send? Is it because we enjoy torturing ourselves? Or is it because, deep down, we hope they’ll read our minds and know how we’re feeling?
casey
There are a number of reasons why people might choose to write unsent messages. Perhaps they feel unable to express their feelings in person, or maybe they’re afraid of rejection. Writing unsent messages can also be a way of processing difficult emotions, or of exploring what might have been. Whatever the reason, there’s something powerful about putting our thoughts and feelings into words, even if we never share them with anyone else.
If you could send a message to your younger self, what would you say?
Many of us have regrets about things we wish we could go back and change. But what if we could send a message to our younger selves?
In the spirit of giving advice, here is an unsent message to Sabrina:
Dear Sabrina,
I know you’re about to make a lot of mistakes. You’re going to mess up in school, in your relationships, and in your career. But I want you to know that it’s okay.
You’re going to learn from your mistakes and become a better person because of them. So don’t be afraid to screw up. Just remember to always stay true to yourself, and never give up on your dreams.
Love,
Your older self
“We’ve all been there – you compose a message to send to someone, but for some reason or another, you never hit send. Maybe you’re not ready to confront the person, maybe you’re scared of what they might say or do in response, or maybe you just don’t know how to say what you need to say. But whatever the reason, that unsent message can eat away at you.”
If you care about your relationship with Ashley, you need to explain why you unsent that message.
If you’re looking to get a response from Kristina, follow these simple tips.
I’m sorry for the way things ended between us, Natalie. I know I was an asshole and I didn’t deserve you. You were always too good for me, anyway. I hope you’re doing well.