This is a chat that I recently had with a 17 year old boy. I am posting it here with his permission and all identifying or possible personal content has been removed.
I hope other teens (and anyone else) will read this and get inspiration that it's possible to be strong and win with Hashems help...
(your feedback on the conversation is appreciated)
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Message by {17 YO Boy}: Am i always gonna have temptations and always have to fight myself not to?,
Message by DavidT: the temptations become much weaker as you build self control muscles,
Message by DavidT: I know many singles that pulled out of it very nicely and so will you IYH,
Message by {17 YO Boy}: Like i dont fall every day so its not like a clean day is a big achievement,
Message by DavidT: if you have a temptation and you keep strong... its a very big achievement,
Message by DavidT: you must view each clean day as a major achievement and celebrate it,
Message by {17 YO Boy}: Alright sounds good,
Good Morning, how is your day going? Keeping strong?
Message by {17 YO Boy}: Bh i am doing well. And keeping string yesterday was clean,
Message by DavidT: Great! you made my day... keep it up and remember, every clean day is a major win and it will add up quickly... till you get to the ultimate goal of being completely clean , with Hashems help,
Message by {17 YO Boy}: Yea BH!!,
Message by {17 YO Boy}: IY"H i will be clean soon,
Message by {17 YO Boy}: Like for ever,
Message by DavidT: Good morning, I'm just checking in. Are you keeping strong?,
Message by {17 YO Boy}: Yea im still clean!!!,
Message by DavidT: Have a great shabbos and keep strong,
Message by {17 YO Boy}: Thank you you to. Thanks i will i havent fallen in five days,
Message by DavidT: B"H, you made my day! you'll keep on growing and one day you'll help others too
Message by {17 YO Boy}: Amen!! IY"H
Message by DavidT: Hi, how was shabbos? is today a day off, or same as every day?,
Message by {17 YO Boy}: Shabbos was good still didnt fall.,
Message by {17 YO Boy}: Does it make sense that since im not doing it, i feel like sad and depressed and like i keep asking myself why im trying to stop myself. But im staying strong, Sunday,
Message by DavidT: its extremely common. the yetzer hora has many good tricks. When you get these feelings you need to visualize the pain and terrible feeling that you have right after a fall... The fact is that the pleasure of not acting out and having self-control is much greater,
Message by DavidT: Hello, how is it going
Message by {17 YO Boy}: Still havent fallen!!,
Message by DavidT: are you counting the clean days?,
Message by {17 YO Boy}: Yea like im at 9 now i yhink,
Message by DavidT: WOW B"H! keep it up. It will not be an easy journey , but klal yisroel needs you to be clean so you'l be able to help others ... and IYH you'll have a great bright future ahead ... there is so much at stake here
Message by {17 YO Boy}: Shoot i feel like im gonna fall,
Message by {17 YO Boy}: I feel really weak,
Message by {17 YO Boy}: Is it ok if i fall? I deserve it. I have been so good for so long...,
Message by {17 YO Boy}: Im stronger than this. Im not gonna let myself fall!!!,
Message by DavidT: Hey. I was in shul davening for you..., I never had such a case like you, I want to ask you a few things,
Message by DavidT: 1- do you agree that a create a forum post with the text messages of our conversation (without your identity of course)? I think it will go viral,
2- where did you get such gevura from? Your parents?,I'm genuinely amazed.. not trying to just make you feel good,
Message by {17 YO Boy}: Thank you so much for davening for me!!! It definitely helped!,
Message by {17 YO Boy}: My Gevurah is all from Hashem. I have been davening for gevurah for monthns now and Its just I know that Hashem gave me a test and i know that Hashem knows I can pass it so today when i texted you i was gonna fall i was ready to let myself fall. I made excuses to myself like "its fine because I have been good and deserve it" but then i just thought "why do i want to do this. Its not worth it. I feel better when i dont do it. Im happier long term. I am stronger than the temptations" and i just closed my phone and went to my living room and learnt some gemara,
Message by DavidT: Beyond amazing..., I'm really embarrassed... you're much stronger than I was at your age...,
Message by {17 YO Boy}: Dont be embarrassed. Im strong with your help,
