Hi Mom. I Love You
A memoir of grief, identity, and becoming.
Hi Mom, I Love You
From Shame to Pride: My Journey of Self-Acceptance
Hi Mom, I Love You is my memoir about healing, grief, and learning to live authentically. It follows my journey from shame and self-hatred to self-acceptance, forgiveness, and a steadier relationship with myself. The book includes over 40 pieces of my original artwork woven throughout the story.
For years, I carried the weight of being gay in a world that made it feel unsafe to be fully seen. After my mom passed, I began writing letters to her, starting each one with the phrase, “Hi Mom, I love you.” Those letters became a lifeline. They helped me process grief, tell the truth about what I had been carrying, and begin again.
A turning point came when I started noticing how many of my thoughts were not truly mine. I began asking, “Whose voice is that?” That question helped me separate my real self from the old voices of judgment and shame, and slowly make room for compassion.
If you have ever felt different, unworthy, or lost in your search for identity, I hope this book helps you feel less alone.
Artwork from the Book
The memoir includes over 40 pieces of original art. Here are three from inside the book.
Early in the story: the mental darkness I was living in.
The middle: a memory from childhood, inspired by something my mom crocheted.
Toward the end: a tree that holds where I landed, and where the book closes.
To everyone who has walked with me through this season of healing, thank you.
