#makeitlovely

Today is #FinchDay2020 and #IAmHere 🌸💛 I am here to listen and talk and remind you you’re not alone. I am here to thank you for all you mean to me. I am here to use my voice for those who feel they have none. I am here to make it lovely and be kind, to never judge or stigmatize others. I am here to let you know I understand, I hurt, I grieve, I struggle, and it’s okay. I am here to say I am enough and you are too. I am here to help. I am here to love. And I am here to say there are bright places, even in dark times. And that we can be that bright place for ourselves and others. 💖 #finchwasreal #iamhere2020 #finchday #theodorefinch #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthawareness #stopthestigma #youarenotalone #loveeachother #helpisoutthere #stickynotes #suicideprevention #makeitlovely #youarebrightplaces https://www.instagram.com/p/B_dZL0TJCnT/?igshid=1f1k88ehv8jn5

Lately, I have been pouring myself. 2017 was a year that tore me and built me. I was pulled out of my comfort. It was a year that shifted me this way and shifted me that way. By the end of it all, my heart was exhausted, and every woman inside of me was tired and deflated. 
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I fell in love. And as quickly as I fell in love, I fell out of it. I dived into Jesus like never before. My position at work changed. I began college (pretty much all over again). My family went through some changes. All in that order! But within all of that, I found my overwhelmed-self on paper and realized Jesus was still better. I discovered how much writing pushed my shoulders down and diminished the strain on my forehead. I write because it is exactly what got me through myself. I’m in no way saying I’ll ever write a book, or become famous, because those aren’t my intentions here. My intention in pouring myself to you guys, is that in some way it helps you and reaches your heart strings with the same struggles and accomplishments I too face in this God given life. Through prayer, find what makes you happy, find what fills you, what helps you. Find what you enjoy doing and do it. 


In the words of Dusty Masselin from Holding Up the Universe: Don’t. Be. Shitty. 🤍 Such important advice to follow every single day. Dear lovelies, thank you for being the opposite of shitty— you are bright and lovely and you make the world a better place. 💙 #holdinguptheuniverse #dontbeshitty #dustymasselin #choosekind #acceptance #practicekindness #makeitlovely #tbt #lovenothate #belovely365 #beabrightplace https://www.instagram.com/p/CCJ3lh7JQiq/?igshid=1itfsnzkj0hki

Dear lovelies: Make it bright. Love others. Be kind. Practice empathy. Open your mind and hearts to those around you. Speak out against brutality. Speak out against injustice. Spread understanding, peace, and love. Be the bright place. 💛 Follow @changedotorg @naacp @aclu_nationwide @blackvisionscollective @reclaimtheblock 💜 #makeitlovely #protest #stoppoliceviolence #blacklivesmatter #change #endpolicebrutality #georgefloyd #beabrightplace https://www.instagram.com/p/CA5RtOZpqIR/?igshid=286lp7xcjjsu

Dear lovelies, lately I’ve been feeling powerless in a very dark, sad world, and I know I’m not alone in that. But I try to remind myself that there are things I can do. 🖤 I am here. To listen. To understand. To empathize. To speak up and out. To learn. To inform. To help stop stigma. To help spread love. To use my voice. To hope. To find bright places. To be a bright place. To make it lovely however I can. To love. And love. And love. 💜 #iamhere #love #listen #hope #breathe #speakout #bethechange #empathize #speakup #useyourvoice #makeitlovely #beabrightplace https://www.instagram.com/p/CBDhMBvpLEr/?igshid=1lowyq2baheez

Dear lovelies: Please wear a mask. Let’s help make the world a brighter, safer place for others. Let’s take care of ourselves and each other. And please stay safe. I love you 💙 (see my stories for links to some lovely mask makers) #wearamask #kidlitformasks #covid19 #staysafe #staywell #makeitlovely #wearingiscaring #bethereforeachother #masks #togetherwecan #beabrightplace https://www.instagram.com/p/CCObUXIJwMa/?igshid=1k81w8zzk9t6z

We need to remember that black members of the LGBTQ+ community matter, too. 🌈 Dear lovelies: You are wanted. You are loved. You matter. You are seen. You are heard. And you are the brightest place. 💜 Link in bio to ways you can make a difference. 🌈 #pride #pridemonth #blacklivesmatter #lovenothate #atfullbrightness #donate #lgbtq #makeitlovely #thetrevorproject #togetherwecan #equality #youareallthecolorsinoneatfullbrightness https://www.instagram.com/p/CBOK5LsJbyV/?igshid=sjmvwjwjnw1g

Read. Inform. Empathize. Be an ally. ❤️ #blacklivesmatter #read #antiracistbooks #bethechange #endracism #stoppolicebrutality #endpolicebrutality #makeitlovely https://www.instagram.com/p/CA-qilVpV59/?igshid=1iq38zb1dmmc9