“You are imperfect, you are wired for struggle, but you are worthy of love and belonging.”

~ Brene Brown

Dear little radiant self who has come into this world with so much:

You are a beautiful angel, a divine energy and force. Although you are not yet aware of the power you have to cultivate in this world, just know that there will be a day to come when you will find your life’s purpose.

You will know when you wake up everyday and have something to breathe about. This will be your calling, your niche, the healing you were meant to give to others while fulfilling your own destiny.

Trust the heartbreak. It is there to teach you.

You will have your heartbroken. Nothing great worth having is done without challenges. You will fall, but rise up again. You will fall again, but rise up again even higher. Nothing goes away until it teaches us what we need to know. Falling will teach you the lessons. Rising up will show you the strength you already have.

Do not live in fear.

Take chances. Take a lot of them. If something doesn’t work, it usually means it wasn’t supposed to. This was difficult for me to understand when things didn’t always go my way. But eventually I looked back and realized that there was a better way, a better path, a better job, better friend, better lover. All of the better made me better, and more grateful for that which didn’t work out in the first place.

Let what is supposed to go, go; and what is supposed to come, come.

My dear sweet one, it is ok to feel your feelings. Pain, love, joy, heartbreak and sadness. Do not run from your self. When we block out pain, we miss out on joy too. In order to get across to the other side of that beautiful bridge, you must be willing to ride out the storm.

It’s ok to be you and embrace your journey.

Do not be the mask you will sometimes want to wear. You were born with a beautiful body, mind and soul. Do not be afraid to show the world who you are. The ones who truly accept you as you are the only ones worth having in your life.

Learn to love yourself more than any man will ever love you. 

Gentle one—know that you cannot write your own story, and the life you will live has already been planned. But you will never win by playing it safe. Walk the path you are given and play the cards you are dealt; this will be the story that you live to tell.

You must learn to feel good from the inside out.

You don’t need to have “someone” to make you happy. Be your own best friend and never live in the shadow of another. See people for who they are, not some version of what you can attach to. When people tell you who you are, leave them. You cannot be the extension of another.

I hope you learn that happiness is an inside job.

I hope you know that there are never any guarantees in life.

I hope you will be wise enough to walk away and let go of that which no longer serves you.

I hope you thank all your struggles because they will make you realize your strengths.

I hope you love without regret.

I hope you give without expectation.

I hope you dance in the rain when no one is watching.

I hope the friends you make when you are a little girl are the ones who stand beside you lacing up your dress on your wedding day.

I hope that the greatest soul mate you find is yourself.

Be beautiful, and be brave. The life you are meant to live will work itself out, even after every wrong turn and decision. Even if it doesn’t turn out how you planned. Because although having your shit together is a nice idea, it is not as much fun as living a radiantly adventurous, wonderfully messy, passionate and complicated life. One that is probably full of shit—but still pretty amazing.

I love you,

Mom

Apprentice Editor: Marcee Murray King / Editor: Catherine Monkman

Photo: Chiara Lana/Pixoto