as if by barbed wire

♥️

it’s okay to speak the words that hurt your chest and get caught in your throat

as if by barbed wire

bleeding on your insides 

afraid they will never climb all the way over and make it to the outside.

it's okay to let people know when they have harmed or insulted your heart

instead of you just holding onto the pieces as they crumble and fall away,

nurturing your wounds in silence out of fear

not taking action

and telling yourself

you are taking the high road.

it’s okay to make your voice heard

and your feelings known 

even if it makes someone else uncomfortable with the way they have to stand there before you with your pain slowly spreading onto

and staining

their hands.

it’s okay to forgive yourself for not yet being able to forgive someone else who has never seen a problem with dismissing your thoughts, 

ignoring your spiritual offering, 

or belittling your you-ness.  

(you'll know when it's time.)

it’s okay.

you’re okay. 

you’ve always been okay.

and you will be more than just okay

no longer bearing the weight 

that was never assigned to you

to carry.

it's okay.  i promise.

today

♥️

things might not be perfect today. 

things might hurt today. 

things might go wrong today. 

things might be really hard today. 

things might actually suck today. 

and i might cry today. 

and i might feel like shit at times today. 

but i will know that none of these things make me less beautiful,

less wonderful

or less desirable. 

and i will allow all those feelings

and then still choose to be glad today. 

and i will then still choose to focus on what i want today. 

and i will then still choose to believe in myself today. 

and i will then still choose to serve others today. 

even if it’s not an ideal day ...

i am so thankful to be alive today.

my pulse

♥️

you are beautiful. 

there is no one like you. 

you are special,
 gifted,
 and so important. 

you don’t need to impress me or anyone else;

you are amazing already. 

focus on you and the love you are giving. 

forget about anyone else and the attention they are getting. 

no one is you. 

no one serves the world in exactly the way you do. 

no one is here on this planet,

or in my life,

the way you are. 

no one carries my heart

and walks the earth

with my pulse

while at the same time coursing through my veins

every

day 

but you. 

I AM

♥️

i respect you even when you disrespect me because that is who I AM. 

i honor you even when you dishonor me because that is who I AM. 

i defend you even when you betray me because that is who I AM. 

i protect you even when you neglect me because that is who I AM. 

i choose to see the best of you even when you undervalue me because that is who I AM. 

i forgive you even when you don’t apologize because that is who I AM. 

i pray for you even when you hurt me because that is who I AM. 

i love you even when you don’t love yourself because i see you,

because i have faith in you,

because i am for you, 

and because that is who I AM. 

none of this is weakness. 

none of this is stupidity. 

all of this is unconditional love 

because that is who I AM. 

suitcases and red flag label-makers

♥️

i know a lot of people have questions about love, whether it's a romantic relationship they're in, a relationship they want to be in, their role as a parent or the role of their parents, their family, their friends, etc.
 and i know a lot of people post and repost quotes and memes and dialogue or complain about the seemingly unattainable unconditional love, and some want the world to believe they have it but behind the smiling faces, social media posts, and canned answers about how they're living their best lives, they're actually missing out on it ... and each other.

because how can we expect or hope for someone to love us unconditionally if we show up with a suitcase full of our own conditions?

how can we even say we want or need someone who will put up with us and all our 💩 if we are unwilling to deal with anyone else's 💩?

how can we say we want, hope, or pray for someone who will never leave us and always choose us, if we have dealbreakers, red flag label-makers, or are always ready to unchoose them when their struggles manifest as mistakes that hurt us?

how can we say we want a relationship with an honest man or woman when we hide things from them and refuse to trust them with our truths?

and how can we ask for loyalty when we have one foot out the door that they don't even know is open, or our fingers are doing the walking in and out of other people's texts, DMs, or emails, and spreading our energy all over the place so no one person gets our whole heart ...

may we all remember that in order to be loved the way we truly want to be loved, we must be brave enough to love the way they need to be loved as well as the way we want to be loved.
i promise, it will change your life. and your love.

every single thing

♥️

when you remember the voices that told you your feelings didn’t matter,

or that you were weak, 

or weren’t good enough,

pretty enough,

or talented enough,

and the tears burn your skin before you even realize you are crying,

i hope you let them fall

and take with them the untruths you have been swallowing your whole life.

i hope you cry as much or as often as you need to,

to cleanse your soul

of the lies you were fed.  

i hope you know I am sorry, 

they were wrong about you, 

and every single thing about you matters.  

every single thing about you is enough.  

every single thing about you is on purpose, 

has purpose, 

and is loved,

and always has been.

it’s okay

♥️

it’s okay if you’re sad. 

i still want to spend time with you. 

you don’t have to pretend you’re not sad. 

you don’t have to not cry if suddenly you feel like crying. 

you don’t have to push your feelings down inside you so they don’t show. 

i know they are part of you

and i always want to know them better. 

it’s okay if you’re mad. 

i still want to talk to you and listen to you.

you don’t have to sugar coat the words you need to get out.

you don’t have to say things are okay that aren’t okay.

you don’t have to accept what isn’t acceptable

and keep quiet about it out of fear.

i’m right here, regardless.  

it’s okay if you’re stressed. 

i still want to see you.

you don’t have to carry your worries on your own.

you don’t have to weigh your burdens and your blessings

and be afraid that your stress invalidates your gratitude.

it doesn’t.

you don’t have to doubt your faith, or me, or you.

i believe in you. 

the thing is, it’s okay if you’re not your best all the time.  

i still want to hold your hand and share this life with you

and remind you that my love for you

is never

going anywhere

without you.

the jackpot

♥️

you deserve someone who doesn’t hesitate to choose you - 

on your best days, on your worst days, and on all the days in between. 

someone who learns to love you the way you need to be loved,

not just the way they know how to love. 

someone who thinks you’re amazing just for being who you are,

not because of anything you do.  

someone whose affection and admiration you don’t have to compete for,

 earn,

or fear losing.  

someone who is grateful to have you

and would never consider life with you to be settling 

but rather hitting the jackpot. 

❤️