Lately, I have been thinking of what I would say to my daughter. If she were here right now if I had any advice to give her at this point in my life, what would I say?

I have learned so much since I started college and began living on my own. As a young woman, I have realized that self-confidence and self-love can be hard to find sometimes. When I do have it, and I feel happy and inspired, I understand how important it is to keep it and how scary it can be to lose it.

I am only twenty, and I know I will experience so much more. I will find that love and lose it over and over. If I had a daughter, I would want her to understand how vital that self-love is. I would explain what I have learned thus far. This poem is a few ideas and thoughts about what I would tell her:

I would tell her that it is okay

It is okay to be alone sometimes

It is okay to have a few close friends

Friends you can really talk to

And have a genuine relationship with

I would tell her to make sure she is comfortable

Physically. Emotionally. Don't settle

I would tell her to never subject herself to a man

I would explain to her that for some reason

We seem to shrink next to them

Look up at them

I would tell her she is not fragile

She is not weak

I would tell her to build up the women around her

We are so envious. So brutal

We glare and scold instead of smile

I would tell her to write

Anything. Get it out your head

Happy thoughts and bad thoughts

Lay them in front of you

See how they build and change over time

I would tell her that words

Meaningful words

Can truly change a heart

I would tell her about music

I would tell her to let it move her because it can

To spend time on it and really settle within it

To really listen

Above all

I would tell her to love

To find love in everything

To love who she loves and never apologize for it

To never change

I would tell her to pursue what she loves

Be passionate and never stop

You will look for reasons to give up but you have to keep going

I would tell her to find love in herself

Sometimes you will lose it and lose yourself

Give yourself time to find your way back

She will find her way back