To the one who made me feel inferior,

You always told me I wasn’t good enough. You were quick to tell me that I would never be successful and that I would never be good enough for anyone. You constantly told me that I wasn't talented enough, smart enough or important enough. You always made sure that I felt worthless, useless, and not enough. You went out of your way to make sure that I felt inferior. And I think I've begun to understand why.

You've been just as hurt as I am right now. You know what it's like to feel useless? You know what it's like to feel as if you're not enough? Somewhere along the road, someone did to you what you've done to me. Someone told you that you aren't good enough, and I'm so sorry that they did that to you. I'm sorry that they hurt you and made you insecure, and I can empathize with you because I know how it feels. Your insecurities make you uncomfortable. They make you feel like the only way to feel better about yourself is to make someone else feel worse. And that is where your insecurities lead you awry.

There is another way to make yourself feel better. I've learned that the way to heal is to recognize that insecurity works in a domino effect. The reason that the person who hurt you did so is because they themselves are insecure and like you, felt that they had to make someone else believe that they're inferior so that they, too, could try and feel secure in who they are. Today, however, things are going to change. Today, even though I'm a part of the domino line, I'm not falling over. I will not fall over. Today, I'm going to stand strong because there is another way. I know why you fell and I'm not going to fall like you did and cause someone else pain. I know now that I am good enough. For a while, I wasn't so sure, but now, I know that I am smart and important and talented and useful. I know that I have a purpose. Just as you tried to convince me that these things aren't true, you showed me that they absolutely are. I know that you only put me down because someone else put you down. I know that you say hurtful things out of insecurity, or even self assurance, not because you believe it's true. You telling me that I'm not enough will not push me down, and it's your turn to recognize that there is another way . You need to realize exactly what I did. You have to know that whoever put you down in the past did it because someone told them exactly what they told you. It's your turn to stand up.

I'm sorry that anyone ever told you that you're not enough. I am truly sorry that you ever had to feel that way. No one deserves to feel that way. No one should ever have to. Today, I'm not going to let you make me feel that way and bring me down with you. I have made a decision to reverse the domino effect, and I will do everything in my power to make sure that it happens. I'm going to lift you up with me. In order for me to do that, I can't hold a grudge against you or hate you. I can't and I won't because I know that underneath all of your fears, insecurities and pain, you don't want to hurt anyone else. I know that deep down, you're not a bad person who's acting out of hatred. Likewise, I'm well aware that you're probably not sorry right now, but when you are (if you ever are), I'm ready to forgive you.

Until that time comes, I'll be here to continually boost you up. I want to show you the respect that you never got. I want you to show you what it feels like to be loved. I want you to know what kindness feels like, in the hopes that you too can learn to show it to others. You are enough: important, smart, useful and talented. You can be successful. I believe that you can do anything that you set your heart to. You, just like anyone else, deserve to be respected and loved.

My only hope now is that you too can stand up. I hope that you can show the world that you are bigger than your insecurities and fears.

Love,

the one who is more than enough.