Dear Former Self,

You are extraordinary. 

Don’t let anyone tell you differently. They lie when they call you fat. 

Don’t believe your own self doubt. You are smart enough, strong enough, & enough just the way you are. 

You do not have to earn love. It is freely given and no misdeed can change it. 

Do not be afraid. Your silence isn’t safety. Your words are your power. 

Strength already lies inside you. Your body is capable of healing. 

Your heart will heal, too.  A broken heart is both an emotional and physical pain, like your anxious burning gasps when you fell off the jungle gym in third grade.

Do not stop dreaming. Dream big, dream often. 

You do not need to find yourself. You are not lost. You are creating an extraordinary you with every choice, every act, every day.