Random Sappy Love Letter From Me to You

You are brave, to live in a world that is so intent on misunderstanding you. I'm sorry the world is like this. I'm sorry that the life we live has been built on a foundation of ignoring the pain and suffering of others. I'm sorry that we are taught to spend our time hiding and pretending because it is what is "safe." I'm sorry that you have been ignored, forgotten, and used. I'm sorry for every second when you needed to be reminded how much you matter, how brave and worthy and special you are, and someone chose to hurt you instead. I'm sorry that I don't know what else to do about it other than write these clumsy, sappy letters to you.

You are deserving of so much grace, forgiveness, encouragement, and comfort. You are worth it. Thank you for being who you are. Thank you for being brave enough to share your talents, your passions, the beautiful things you create. Thank you for trusting others enough to honestly express how you feel, even when it's messy or scary. Thank you for loving others, and for trying your best to learn every day how to love them better. Thank you for paying attention to people, for noticing when you do something to hurt them and making the effort to change your behavior and apologize. Thank you for showing up every day despite self-doubt, fear, anxiety, worry, depression, pain, and all the other obstacles you face daily. 

I hope that you fight the urge to hide. That you are able to wear your messy, ugly, unkind, selfish, and wrong moments with the same care that you wear your sweet, lovely ones. Every moment when you didn't feel right or nice or perfect or good, those were moments when you were still trying. You were scared, and lost, and human. Those moments don't make up who you are; they don't stop you from being good.

I hope for your safety, health, and happiness. I hope that you will learn how to find the strength to do what's right, to push past fear/doubt, and to seek out ways to grow. Someday you will get there. You will find it easier to learn from your mistakes, and it will be easier to forgive others as well as yourself. Someday, you will find a place where you belong. My hope for you is that you will always be surrounded by those who will encourage, comfort, challenge, inspire, and support you. You will find moments of rest as well as moments of energy. I hope you are provided for in all ways: financially, physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Someday, it won't be so hard to allow yourself to fall apart in order to heal. Perhaps most importantly, I hope you remember how loved you are, and that you take the opportunity to remind others how much you love them.

I don't know what else to do, really. I can't fix everything. All I can do is say what I think needs to be said. So here it is. A love letter, from me to you. <3