charlie's last letter (and how it's helped me)

charlie's last letter

I don’t know if I will have the time to write any more letters because I might be too busy trying to participate.

So if this does end up being the last letter, I just want you to know that I was in a bad place before I started high school, and you helped me. Even if you didn’t know what I was talking about or know someone who’s gone through it, you made me not feel alone.

Because I know there are people who say all these things don’t happen. And there are people who forget what it’s like to be sixteen when they turn seventeen. I know these will all be stories someday. And our pictures will become old photographs. And we’ll all become somebody’s mom or dad. But right now, these moments are not stories. This is happening.

I am here, and I am looking at her. And she is so beautiful.

I can see it.

This one moment when you know you’re not a sad story. You are alive, and you stand up and see the lights on the buildings and everything that makes you wonder. And you’re listening to that song on that drive with the people you love most in this world.

And in this moment, I swear, we are infinite.

click here for full scene

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analysis

for those of you who don’t know where this is from, it’s from perks of being a wallflower. it’s a really beautiful conclusion to the story, where the main character reflects on everything he’s been through and realizes that he should focus on living life and enjoying each moment as it happens with the people he loves. to enjoy the little things.

(tldr: charlie's friend committed suicide in middle school + his aunt, who molested him, died in a car crash while driving to pick him up)

the letter starts with:

i don’t know if i will have the time to write any more letters because i might be too busy trying to participate.

in short, this means he’s focused on living in the moment instead of spending so much time thinking about the past.

he wrote letters (basically journaling) as a way to cope—letting his thoughts and feelings out on paper. but now, by saying he might not have time to write anymore, he’s hinting at turning a new leaf. writing fewer letters shows his growth and newfound happiness, as he starts looking forward to the future and chooses to be present in the moment.

so if this does end up being the last letter, i just want you to know that i was in a bad place before i started high school, and you helped me. even if you didn’t know what i was talking about or know someone who’s gone through it, you made me not feel alone.

my interpretation of the person he’s referring to is his journal. his journal was who he came to when he needed someone to talk to. it helped him cope by “listening” to his thoughts and feelings. it was there for him when he felt like nobody else was.

now, he’s essentially breaking up with his journal—saying goodbye. he’s thanking it for helping him through the hard times, for always being there. when he was sad. when he was depressed. when he needed to say whatever was on his mind without being judged. his journal got him through some really dark moments.

but all things must come to an end. as he turns this new leaf, he has to leave someone he cares about behind—just like in real life.

sometimes, you break up with someone you were in love with because you have to move far away or start a new chapter. you don’t hate them. you still love and appreciate them, but you know leaving is what’s best. and that’s what this feels like.

because I know there are people who say all these things don’t happen. and there are people who forget what it’s like to be sixteen when they turn seventeen.

people may not believe your stories and some will judge you.

but...

it doesn't matter what they think. as long as you live in the moment, your lives will be more meaningful than those who doubt and judge your past.

i know these will all be stories someday. and our pictures will become old photographs. and we’ll all become somebody’s mom or dad. but right now, these moments are not stories. this is happening.

everything you experience in life will eventually become a memory.

what you're living right now will one day become history.

as time continues to pass, we should live in the moment. why dwell on the past and feel sad that you can’t relive certain memories, when you can enjoy new ones? experience new joy. live fully in the now so you can create even stronger memories—ones that feel just as special, if not more, than the ones you reminisce about.

i don’t fully agree with the line, “and we’ll all become somebody’s mom or dad,” if we take it literally. life is unpredictable, and tomorrow isn’t promised.

but on a deeper level, i think what the author really means is that we shouldn't stress about the future. instead, we should focus on the present. life has a way of working itself out, and the best thing we can do is appreciate what we have right now because tomorrow is not guaranteed.

i am here, and I am looking at her. and she is so beautiful.

i interpret this as a reminder to appreciate the people around you and to focus on them, instead of getting lost in your own head. from your best friends, to your family, to even the random dude you said hi to on the street—it's important to give your full attention to the people you interact with. there's so much beauty in those everyday connections.

in my opinion, spending time with people you genuinely enjoy being around leads to the best kind of experiences—ones that feel real, full, and alive.

i can see it

instead of getting lost in his imagination or trying to relive memories in his head, charlie is finally seeing what’s right in front of him—because he’s living in the present and appreciating what’s happening now.

the letter starts off by indirectly sending the message that he’s living life, fully in the moment. that’s why it’s his last letter—he doesn’t have time to reminisce about the past anymore. the present is what matters. this letter is his goodbye to all the trauma and pain he faced before. the dark times that once consumed him.

the way the words are crafted to represent this message is so, so beautiful. it keeps the tone of a high schooler—genuine, raw, and unfiltered—but you can still feel the care put into every word.

i think this letter hits harder than when someone just says “live in the moment,” because it’s specific. it’s real. it’s relatable. when we’re sad or going through something, we forget how beautiful life can be. we get consumed by the pain of the past, and we forget to live.

this one moment when you know you’re not a sad story. you are alive, and you stand up and see the lights on the buildings and everything that makes you wonder. and you’re listening to that song on that drive with the people you love most in this world.

the author is trying to say that you should enjoy every little moment in life. from the smallest things—like the lights on a building—to anything that amazes you. take it all in. whatever you wonder about in your head, you should experience and enjoy in real life.

when you live in the moment, your past doesn’t matter. the pain and trauma you went through no longer define you. instead of being sad over what’s behind you, you’re appreciating what’s in front of you—just being here, on this earth, noticing all the little things.

you’re no longer a sad story. you’re the present. the story doesn’t exist anymore. it’s gone. and now, you’re just here—living.

and in this moment, i swear, we are infinite.

time no longer exists. there is no past. there is no future. you feel everything, all at once.

there is only happiness.

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my thoughts

after everything i've been going through, i find myself really relating to this scene, as i begin my journey toward turning a new leaf. as someone who overthinks, constantly worries about the future, and gets stuck reminiscing about the past, reading this made me realize how much i’ve been missing out on.

i should be living in the moment more. i should be appreciating the little things, being present, and feeling grateful for what i have and the people around me.

it’s hard—feeling like i don’t have control over everything. but that’s life. and instead of trying to control it, i need to focus on what’s happening right now. i need to live it up.

i especially need to…

focus. focus. focus.

not on work. not on school. but on the present moment. what’s happening now. i need to focus on doing the things that bring me joy.

whenever i need a reminder, i will come back to charlie’s last letter

"dylan, slow down, be present, and enjoy each moment as it happens."

life is messy. bad things happen. but i’m going to try my best to stop being sad about the past or anxious about what might come next. because time keeps moving. every second brings me closer to the end, and the only thing i can really control is being here now.

this post kind of contradicts my last one, and i think that’s a good thing. i wrote that one when i was in a bad place. now, i’m focused on moving forward. not forgetting the good memories, but choosing to be more present—so the moments i’m living now will become memories that mean even more later.

thanks for reading <3