To My Daughter

15 things that I want you to know…

1. No matter what the struggles might be between us, your existence still makes my life, and this world, a better place.

2. Your number of failures are more important to me than your number of successes – it means that she keeps trying.

3. All of your imperfections make you a unique form of perfect.

4. When you choose who to love, I will never care about the color of their skin, where they come from, or their gender; only that you treat each other with respect and help each other grow.

5. On your darkest days, you are still my brightest light.

6. I don’t ever want you to follow in my footsteps, only to find your own path and to follow it with confidence.

7. Your voice matters. Use it even when others tell you not to - but always with respect and compassion.

8. You will encounter many people in your life who don’t deserve your kindness. These people are likely the ones will need and will benefit from her kindness the most.

9. Find where you belong. “Fitting in is not the same as belonging. Filling in requires you to become who you need to be in order to be accepted. Belonging doesn’t require you to change who you are.” – Brené Brown. 

10. There is a time to persevere, a time to change course, and there are times when you have to persevere in order to find the correct course.

11. You will never regret being kind to someone, but you will always regret not showing kindness.

12. Don’t limit yourself by staying in one place – explore and experience as much as possible.

13. Your true friends will always forgive you. Being a true friend to someone else means not giving them a reason to have to.

14. There is a difference between discomfort and pain. If something causes you discomfort, it’s giving you an opportunity to grow. If it’s painful, it’s not meant for you. The line between the two is fine and can be blurry. 

15. You’re not responsible for anyone else’s feelings, but you are responsible for how you contribute to them.