“But you don’t even know me…”

Perfectly normal response.

But sure I do.

How? Well, are you a human being? Yes. Do you live on Earth? Yes. Then this much I know:

You are a person with feelings, thoughts, and experiences, trying your best to navigate through life. You’ve faced hardships. You’ve felt joy. You’ve been hurt. You’ve hurt others. You have failed, which means you have also succeeded. You’ve laughed and cried and loved and screamed and stressed, and at some point, you’ve felt like you’re just not good enough.

But you are.

I love you because you are a beautiful creation. Because you exist. Because you walk this Earth. I love you because your flaws and imperfections reflect your humanity. Most of all, I love you because you deserve to be loved.

And of course it’s nice to be loved by your parents, your kids, your friends, your partner, or even a stranger – but none of that matters if you aren’t loved by the most important person in your life. You.

How do you start? Accept yourself for who you are. The good, the bad, the cute, and the ugly. Acknowledge that you’re not perfect, nor were you meant to be. That’s why you’re here. To make mistakes and drop the ball and say the wrong things. To shed light on your darkness and make friends with the goblins in your head. To hug your shadows and kiss your insecurities. All so you can learn, grow, and be just a little bit wiser than you were yesterday. If you decide there’s something you don’t like about yourself, you have the power to change it. But do it for you. Never for anyone else.

It’s also important to acknowledge how far you’ve come and celebrate your triumphs, big or small. Instead of criticizing yourself for all the things you haven’t done, take a moment to thank yourself for doing all the things you never thought you could do. Life has put you through the wringer, and yet here you are, still standing tall and trying your best. Accept good things with open arms, because you deserve them. Keep those arms open and extend your warmth to those around you. The more love you give, the more love you receive. And who doesn’t love love?

So I’ll say it once more, and I hope you believe me. I love you, and you should too.