To my struggling friends as the new semester begins to kick in, I see you.

You are doing great.

I see your tears of frustration, anger, and stress. It hurts me to see you overwhelmed and stressed. It hurts me to see that you don't see what I see. When I look at you, (Emily, this ones for you) I see a determined driven young woman. I see someone who is striving to get her sh*t together before midterms.

With the countless hours of flight lessons you complete or attempt to complete, the long hours you work on the weekends, and the amount of time I see you put into our church, I can see how you think that you're not doing as hot as you want to be. I can see that you don't see you as I do because you're too busy focusing on your academics, Faith, and finances. I get it, but I want you to know that despite these things, you're amazing.

Despite the fact that you may not have time to step back and reflect on the amazing person that you are, I make the time to reflect for you.

Your hard work doesn't go unnoticed. The way that you always make time for the things you love even if it means interference with something else is something that not a lot of girls in our class do. I admire the way you prioritize and balance your life. Although you may not feel as though you have your poop in a group, it looks like you do.

And that, my friend, is wonderful.

Not because you seem like something you may not be, but because it shows strength and balance. Strength and balance I wish I'd developed sooner. You're doing your best and even though sometimes it may feel like your best isn't enough, for me, it is. For me, I see you doing your best, I see you trying, I see you engaged. Just remember that your best is always good enough for me. It is when you do something well above what you think is your best that I remember why you're my best friend. You put forth everything you have into everything you do and that's a quality that many people lack.

I want to remind you that although you don't feel 100%, it is because of your endless love and dedication that I am where I am today.

Your motivation is what has gotten me to church, back to the gym, and out of bed every morning. You are my favorite person and I feel as though you need to hear this every single day and I try to tell you every day how much you mean to me. You deserve nothing less than genuine happiness and success. You are the type of friend that I didn't know I needed until I met you. Now that you're in my life, good luck leaving. There is nobody else I'd rather worship with, workout with, or get weird stares from other people with. You bring out the absolute best in me and that's something I haven't been able to say about anybody ever. So, to my friend who is struggling, I love you and this storm will also pass.

To my other friends who may be struggling, know that I feel the exact same way about you.

Your smiles are the sunshine in my day. Your laughter is music to my ears, especially the snorts that come along with it. Your hard work and determination is refreshing. Your endless love for me, the gym, genuine happiness, God, coffee, and breakfast dates is rare. I can't express my love for you in words, there just aren't enough of them. I can't express my thanks for having you in my life enough, there just isn't enough thanks to go around. You are my reason to keep going, to persevere, to push through, to get out of bed. You are my reason behind what I do. You are the reason I found myself when I was lost. You are my reason.

So when you feel like the going is tough, like you're not worthy, like you don't want to go on with anything, just remember that I look to you for everything.

That you give me purpose and a reason to thrive. Remember that when you don't feel loved, I love you. I love you with everything in me and you make my world keep spinning. Without you, there would be no true me. You are worthy of everything life has to offer you. You are worthy of so much, so please, remember that the next time you feel as though you're not worthy.

Because you are. You are the light and I love you.

~Happy Life~