Dear naïve, insecure, old version of myself,

Thank you for making me the person I am today.

Thank you for finally realizing what you deserve. It took some time, but I am the person I have admired and always wanted to be. I remember growing up; I had a very difficult time finding my identity in the world. Being surrounded by so many different types of people, I didn't know who I was or where I belonged. So I always tried to be the person everyone wanted me to be. After years of letting other take advantage of me, it was finally time for a change. It didn't happen over night, it took years. It's an ongoing transition that will never stop, because it's only making me a better version of myself.

Thank you for letting go of the people who brought you down. It's a natural cycle of life to let people in and let them go. But instead of letting them go, I would hold on to people who didn't deserve it. Focusing so much of my time on maintaining these friendships and relationships was exhausting. It was difficult to be the person they wanted me to be all the time. In order be the person you want to be, you have to let them go. It hurt me so badly to disappoint people, but they were constantly dragging me down. I thank those negative people every day, because they made me appreciate all of the genuine people I have in my life.

Thank you for mending meaningful relationships. Being around people who you think are your friends can make you push the real ones to the back burner. I was so wrapped up in keeping those petty relationships that I forgot about the true friends and family that had always been around. Whenever I would post something mildly depressing, these genuine people would be the first to contact me. Regardless of how long it had been since we had communicated, I could always count on them to pick me up when I was down.

Thank you for understanding that it's okay to not have it all together. In high school, I would fret and worry, because I had no idea who I was or what I wanted to do with my life. Let's face it, no one really has their life together. That's fun thing about life; once you think you have everything, you get thrown a curve ball, and you are right back at square one again. Once I understood that, I finally felt satisfied with being lost in life.

Thank you for sticking through the hard times and being optimistic even when the odds against you were slim to none. We have all been through our own personal adversities, but the way you deal with things truly define who you are. There were days when I wanted to give up on life and not do anything. I was always the person that pretended nothing was wrong in order to satisfy everyone else's feelings, because my issues seemed to be a burden to everyone around me. When I would wake up in the morning and look in the mirror, I realized I wasn't living for myself, nor trying to better the quality of my life. I was living for those who treated me so poorly and extending all of my energy to please them when I should have been dealing with my own struggles.

Thank you for reminding me every day that I am important, beautiful, intelligent, and loved. I did not change my identity to become stronger, I just started to care more about myself. Self worth is everything, but so easily overlooked. Love yourself and everything will fall into place, trust me.

Who I once was is not who I am now. But the girl I once was has turned me into the beautiful and strong woman I am proud to say I am today.

Love,

Your best version of yourself.