To The Youth Of Today

I sit here tonight bursting to get the words out. Words that I don't quite have, but I can feel them. Let me start with this. It's hard, and I get it! Please believe me....I get it! I may have quite a few years on you, but not enough that where you are doesn't seem like yesterday if I stop and think about it. The pain, the fear, the heartache.....The joy, the love, the first tastes of freedom, the anticipation of what's to come. I remember the feeling of my first love. I remember the crushing ache of my first heartbreak. I remember talking about the future with my best friend. I remember passing that same friend in the hallway after we somehow became like strangers one day. I remember when I couldn't imagine not needing parents. I remember when I no longer felt like I could even talk to them. I remember the crushing loneliness when I literally felt like I had no one. I remember how confusing that was. I remember when I looked in the mirror and didn't recognize the person staring back. I remember feeling like a stranger to my own thoughts. I remember hating myself, from the way I looked to the thoughts in my head. I remember relying on other people to define my worth. I remember it all. And that is a beautiful thing. I get to remember it because I survived it!

I got to discover what was on the other side. Life! Real life! Not high school, but the life YOU get to create! It's whatever you want. I got to discover being a wife and a mama. I get to see the future in my son's eyes. There is NOTHING I would trade for feeling his arms around me. I'm not saying there won't be struggle or pain or fear beacause there will be, but there will also be beautiful things you cannot imagine right now. There is life after all of this. Empowering beautiful life, and you don't want to miss it! Trust me!

I guess the words I'm searching for for are these: I know sometimes things seem really bad now. I know your highs are so high and your lows are so low. I know there are adults minimizing how you feel about things, and I know how frustrating that is. I know it feels like there's no way out, but please know this: Your thoughts and feelings matter....You matter! You are strong when you think you are weak! Remember that! Keep going! Coast when you can! Thrive when you can! Fight like hell when you have to! Just know you are worth it! I promise!