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March 28, 2014

An Open Letter to Myself. ~ Lauren Hanna

writing

Dear Me,

I’m writing this because you have been hiding your eyes under the covers more often than usual lately. Come out. Come up. Why are you hiding?

You are a good person. You work hard. You love hard. You do your best every day.

You often doubt yourself. You worry. Why worry?

When you are most afraid, close your eyes. Sit still. Listen to the sound of the rain falling on the windows of this apartment you have filled with the sounds of your effort every morning. When you wake up and turn away from the sleeping body next to you—this is no easy thing you do each day.

You will yourself to do what needs to be done.

To move.

To make moves.

To be of purpose.

I know it doesn’t feel like that all of the time…that you are of purpose. But, you need to know that you are. Even when you feel shamed, ashamed, or as though you are not worthy of what you’ve earned in this life.

Believe that you are worthy anyways.

Look at how much you have done and how far you have come. Look at the people’s lives you have touched. Trust in yourself.

You are a good person. You are humble and kind and forgiving. You are much too hard on yourself. Let yourself shine. Don’t stand in your own way. Be bold and big and brave and relish in this effort that is life—that is your life. Know that what you do every day is not easy.

It is not easy, but it is a calling.

It is your calling.

Be your own best friend. Remember when you bought yourself flowers and walked the farmers market in the park on Saturday mornings by yourself and dreamed about the future.

The future that you’ve dreamed of is here.

Relish in it. Do not run away. Do not cover your eyes.

Do not be afraid. 

Love,

Me

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Editorial Assistant: Alicia Wozniak/Editor: Catherine Monkman

Photo: Flickr/Missi

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