STAYING KIND, STAYING STRONG

Photos captured by Mitchell Royel in the Fashion District today, 8/31/26, around 7:20 PM—just as the golden hour was vibing hard. We’re out here dodging potholes in platforms, striking fierce poses like our lives depend on it, and—oh yeah—blaring “Cheap Sunglasses” by RAC and Matthew Koma like it’s the soundtrack to a couture apocalypse. The energy? Chaotic. The mood? Edgy. The aesthetic? Somewhere between high fashion and “I haven’t slept in three days, but I look amazing.” Classic.

Hey guys. So, I want to talk to you about something real today. Something I think about a lot.

First, a funny little backstory. Mitchell — the creative director — actually reached out to ask me to be part of this issue right after a Bible study, somewhere deep in the Valley. I did the interview over the phone while I was spending the night with family in Los Angeles. And then, a little while later, I remember getting a DM from him about how much the Roman Holiday issue meant to him. That message genuinely made my day.

Now, for the full details on exactly what I said about bullying during that phone call, flip to my letter inside this issue of ELIXIR by Royel — it's all there, straight from the heart. But let me say it again here, this time just for you.

For the full story on what I shared about bullying, check out my letter inside this issue — it's all in there, and it came straight from the heart.

I used to try so hard to fit in. I'd change the way I talked. I'd change what I wore. I'd pretend to like things I didn't like, just so people wouldn't make fun of me. But here's the thing — it never worked. Because no matter how much I changed, the mean stuff kept happening. And after a while, I started to believe the mean things people said about me. That's the sneaky, awful part about bullying. It gets inside your head.

But here's what I want you to know: those mean things were never true. Not about me. And not about you either.

Little by little, I started to figure that out. And when I stopped believing the lies people told about me, something amazing happened — I started to feel like me again.

So here's my advice, and I really mean this:

Be yourself. Like, the real, full, goofy, wonderful version of yourself. The stuff that makes you different? That's actually your superpower. Don't hide it. The world doesn't need you to be a copy of someone else. It needs you.

Go explore the world. I got to wander around Rome for this shoot, and wow — the world is so big and so beautiful. When you see how much is out there, all the different people and places and food and music, the mean words from back home start to feel really, really small. Travel teaches you that you belong everywhere.

Have as much fun as possible. I'm serious. Dance like nobody's watching. Eat the extra scoop of ice cream. Laugh really loud. Say yes to the fun stuff. Joy is actually one of the best ways to fight back against bullying — because bullies want you to feel sad and small. So don't give them that. Be happy. Be loud. Be alive.

The best thing you can do — honestly — is just live your best life. Show up as yourself, every single day. That's it. That's the whole secret.

If you're going through something hard right now, I want you to know: it gets better. The things that make you feel weird or different today are probably the things that are going to make you really cool one day. Hang in there. Stay kind. Stay you.

And thank you to Mitchell and everyone at ELIXIR by Royel for giving me a place to say all of this. Even over the phone, even with the fuzzy memory — I'm really glad these words found their way to you.

You've totally got this.

— Thomas Kuc

Epilogue: The story, like life itself, is fluid—a continuous flow that demands our engagement, adaptation, and understanding. What young preteen American boys learned in the 1940s was a testament to the timeless principles of resilience, self-reliance, and the value of hard-earned wisdom. During a time shaped by global adversity, the lessons imparted to teenage boys were not just practical, but transformational. They learned to turn discipline into strength, struggles into character, and uncertainty into opportunity.

The ongoing evolution of these lessons parallels your own journey. Each decision, each obstacle, serves as a proving ground for growth. The essence of progress lies in your ability to observe, strategize, and persevere in the face of challenges. The young men of that era understood this deeply—the value of taking small, deliberate steps rather than waiting for life to hand them clarity or direction. Each victory, no matter how minor, became a stepping stone toward something greater.

The world, even now, is a place of boundless potential. What shapes that potential isn’t the avoidance of difficulty but the willingness to confront it. Every experience, no matter how trivial it might seem, is a tool for sharpening your perspective and deepening your capacity for action. Everything unclear today can become a profound guide for tomorrow, provided you are willing to extract its meaning.

The story does not have an endpoint—it regenerates with every choice you make, every risk you take, and, most importantly, every reflection you allow yourself. The courageous acts, whether from decades past or in your present day, come from the same powerful source—the strength to realize that growth belongs to those who commit to it. Life’s lessons are timeless, and just as teenage boys in the 1940s forged paths through discipline and resolve, you too shape the narrative by remaining curious, adaptable, and determined to grow.

The path is not rigid; it bends and curves as you make it your own. The question is not where it ends, but where it will take you next.