#onlysimchas

It’s 3 days into the new year. And I’m writing this to you as a gentle reminder for the upcoming year.

(It’s your conscience by the way. How’s life?)

I’m writing you to remind you of a few things. A few promises I want you to keep. And most of all, I’m writing because I never want you to loose sight of who you are.

2017 had it’s hardships. You had your heart broken, broke a few hearts, were on the closing team of a Disney attraction, went to therapy, took medication, meditated, cried, laughed, loved, and lived.

You survived 2017.

You survived a year that was a political shitstorm. You survived a year with a 7 month internship, made and lost friends, and grew up a little bit.

You let yourself fall in love completely for the first time. And it was scary. And it is scary. And it might always be scary. But this person, this imperfect person that you love perfectly, was a gift of 2017.

In 2017; you let yourself be walked over. You let me people treat you less than kindly, and you did nothing to stop it. You let people in positions of power have control over your mental health.

You let “friends”  control your actions and thoughts. You allowed those who you invited into your home, and into your heart; attack it with a piece of shattered glass.

You went through a bout of depression. You dealt with anxiety on a level you’ve never experience. You wanted to die at some points. You thought that cutting your young life off was easier than dealing with the harsh, crippling realities of mental illnesses.

But you survived. You survived one of the hardest years of your life thus far.

And it’s okay to be proud of yourself.

I don’t want you to survive in 2018.

I want you to LIVE.

I want you to let your curly mess of hair flop against your back as you run another mile. I want you to make new friends. I want you to be more assertive. I want you to know your worth and add tax to it.

Because my sweet girl, you’re stuck with you for the rest of your life. You’ll have friends come and go. You’ll have experiences like anyone else’s. You have your own journey; and I want you to be in life with every moment of 2018 and beyond.

You’re allowed to scream. You’re allowed to cry. You’re allowed to get angry and upset.

But you CANNOT ever give up. Ever.

You hear me?

Giving up is not an option.

Let the memories of bullies and venomous words melt off your back like melting snow.

Let the anxieties you feel when you think of your childhood be squashed by the remembrance of the self love and acceptance you have in your heart.

Let the mascara that coats your eyelashes be an enhancement of your features, but not a necessity.

Let food be a necessity but not an anxiety. Fill yourself with fruit, rice and beans. Focus on fueling your body. Not hurting it.

Let the scars across your arms and legs, tummy and hips be a reminder of the battle that you tirelessly fought for years.

Let yourself fall in love with yourself. It’s a crazy thing, I know. Let that mess of curls run wild against your head. Let the clothes your wear be an example of the class and respect you hold for yourself.

Don’t let anyone dull or dim the sparkle that you have.

You’re a little crazy. A little silly.

But you know what?

That’s an amazing thing. Because weird, silly, and crazy are side affects of awesome.

Let 2018 be your bish. (As your friend Kim so loving reminded you.)

You got this girl.