My Dear Love,
Happy Valentine's Day! I just want you to remember that you are loved. I will not love you more if you send me flowers. I will love you for your kindness, for your capacity to give without expectations, for your trust, and for being true to yourself. Thank you for accepting me as a warrior, as well as a worrier.
I will love you for your company that requires few words. I will love you despite your poor judgement, no filter, and sharp tongue. Sometimes I will be too much to bare and other times you will crave my free spirit. I will suggest when it's time to dust your aura. I will poke when I see you decorating your pain. I will remind you that ever tear you shed is the most healing water of all.
I will cradle you like the best book I have ever read.
I will turn up the music to remind you to dance. I will watch you slowly take down your masks to reveal your true self. I will encourage you to take risks. I will forgive you when you feel shame or guilt. And when faith starts to fade, I will point out the light of the moon. I will whisper when you need to take your eyes off the rear view mirror and look forward.
I will give you time to unlearn all the stuff the world has hardened you with. I will speak up for you when you lose your voice. When your teacher tells me you are too hot to handle, I will fan your flame. I will never allow you to conform to a cookie-cutter code of conduct. I want you to be proud of your uniqueness. I will watch you fail, cheer you on, and tell you that you are lit as fuck!
I will encourage you to be unafraid to write the truth, even when you are terrified by it. I will push you through your fears to cultivate courage. I will guide you to transform every obstacle into your greatest life lesson. I will crack your heart open so you can own your story. Because, oh my God, I will not have you wake up in your semi-retired life, with regret for the opportunities you never took. You will not let fear win. No one will bring you joy before you do. You will not live this one life waiting, regretting, doubting, dieting, apologizing because in a year from now, nothing will be the same. So tonight, when you count your miracles, I will remind you to include yourself.
I love you,
always and forever.
