👋 About This Place (and the Slightly Broken Human Behind It)
Welcome to Letters to a Scared Boy Called Tom—a weekly dose of real talk, emotional scar tissue, and quietly defiant optimism.
I’m Tom. Professional heart patient. Amateur philosopher. Lifelong explorer of life’s messier side quests.
Over the years, I’ve:
Walked beside the people I loved most as they left this world.
Spent far too much time in hospital gowns.
Been zapped back to life by a defibrillator that clearly thought I was a Marvel villain.
Watched my daughter nearly die from a virus that attacked her brain. She survived. I nearly didn’t.
Toss in a few rounds of PTSD, depression, and let’s not forget good ol’ global pandemic meltdown.
Tried (and thankfully failed) to check out myself.
… and somehow, I’m still here. Writing. Walking. Occasionally swearing at waterproof zips.
This Substack started as therapy—raw, unfiltered letters to the scared little boy I used to be. But over time, I realized something:
I’m not the only one carrying old fears in grown-up clothes.
So now, I write for you too.
For the ones who’ve been knocked down but are still curious about what else life has to offer.
For the burnt-out carers, the quiet survivors, the daydreamers with backpacks and baggage.
For anyone wondering: “Can I start again this late in the game?”
(Spoiler: yes, you bloody can.)
What You'll Find Here
📬Letters to my younger self (who was terrified of… well, everything)
🪨 Gentle but firm encouragement to do hard things.
💬 Stories about managing fear, building confidence, and finding joy in small adventures.
🎒 Soul-first life lessons told from muddy trails, hospital beds, and kitchen floors.
🌿 A belief that you don’t need to be “fixed”—you just need to start walking again. (These kind of adventures don’t need a GoPro or life insurance!)
Want to Go Deeper?
If you like what you read, you can become a paid subscriber. It helps me keep writing these letters—and allows me to offer even more:
It’s £7/month or £70/year (your call). You’ll get:
💬 Access to member-only posts
🎒 Early drafts of my adventure therapy ideas
💡 Behind-the-scenes of rebuilding a life with heart (literally and figuratively)
And the warm glow of knowing you're keeping this little campfire burning 🔥
Honestly? Your support helps me do what I love—write, walk, and coach people through the mess toward something meaningful.
And that means the world.
So stick around. Subscribe. Or upgrade if you're feeling bold.
Just don’t disappear quietly. The world needs your story too.
Upgrade below and help me turn this Substack into a life raft for people who need it most.
👉 Become a paid subscriber — it’s cheaper than therapy and with 100% more sarcasm.
alternatively, if you would rather just support my work with a one off donation, I would be very grateful. You can buy me a coffee here:
☕️ Buy me a coffee (because even second hearts run better on caffeine!)
Your heart (and mine) will thank you for it.
Let’s keep walking.
—Tom 👣
