Every time you doubt yourself my heart searches for new ways to let you know how amazing you are:

When you are alone with yourself and struggling with your thoughts or your feelings or what your life looks like. 

When you are hurting inside and just want to hide and cry,

and you wish or pray that you were different in some way so that your life would be different.  

When you choose solitude over connecting with people because everyone sees you as having everything you could want 

and you are the only one who knows you feel lonely on the inside. 

I want you to know I have felt these things too. 

I haven’t been in your exact shoes but I’ve walked the lonely-inside/happy-outside walk. 

I’ve tucked a smile into my pocket so I could put it on at a moment’s notice. 

I’ve laid in bed staring at the ceiling 

with countless dreams of how I wish my life looked.  

I’ve been stuck in my head instead of my heart. 

I’ve wished on stars, 

I’ve wished on birthday candles, 

I’ve wished on dandelions 

and I’ve prayed. 

I’ve wondered what was wrong with me 

or why I was the way I was 

or how I could make things different so I wouldn’t feel that way.  

I think sometimes I had walking depression which in my mind is like walking pneumonia only there aren’t any physical symptoms people can recognize so no one knows you have it.  

And what I want you to know is: 

there isn’t anything wrong with you. 

You are not broken and you don’t need to be fixed.   

Other people see your light even when you don’t.  

They don’t always see your hurt because your light is always shining and nothing is more powerful than that.  

Whatever season you’re in right now, please know it will pass, like all seasons do.  

You’re going to make it. 

And you’re going to keep shining. 

And the love and kindness you are giving will come back to you tenfold.  

You got this.  

And I got you.  

And I’m so so glad you’re here

exactly as you are. ❤️✨