Dear Me (F),

Follow your heart. Be passionate. Work hard. Stay humble.
Be focused. Be kind. Be real. Be YOU.
Dream BIG HUGE so when whatever it is you’ve been wanting, working for, fighting for happens, you’ll have to pinch yourself to make sure it’s real.

Love a lot, laugh a lot, and cry some too. It’s okay to let it out. It doesn’t make you weak or stupid. It means you’re human and have real emotions.
And don’t forget to read a good book every once in a while.
Or unplug.
Or drink an amazing cup of coffee with a butt load of sugar.
Or go with your hair down and bold lipstick on.

Appreciate the people who love you, help you, and lift you along the way to become a better person, a better writer, and a better friend. Remember those who stood beside you when you could barely stay standing alone. Hone your craft and never stop chasing the dream, but learn to love YOUR journey. We’re all different and start from different paths. We have different motivations, different reasons why we do the things we do. It makes us who we are. But remember your roots, and where you came from, and your WHY.

People will be jealous. But it doesn’t change what you’ve accomplished.
People will be assholes. Some of them are just born that way.
You don’t need that kind of negativity in your life so cut the cord. Sometimes you’re too nice and people take advantage of that.
Learn to say NO. It’s really okay to say no. And if people can’t accept it, they were only worried about themselves anyway.
Positive thinking can change the world.

Comparison kills careers. Complacency kills careers.
Continue to break the mold you were forced into and think outside the box.
Continue to strive to inspire and motivate without imitation or limitation.
Pay attention to detail, but don’t be so hard on yourself it causes you to stop. It solves nothing and kills inspiration.
Remember it’s okay to make mistakes but being able to admit them and learn from them is what matters most.
Worry about yourself, but keep your compassion and empathy for others.

Learn to accept compliments. Give them freely.
Don’t discredit yourself and your hard word over the years. You are good enough. You are smart enough.
Wake up every day and prove the people who thought you couldn’t wrong.
No one has it all figured out and that’s okay. If they say they do, it’s a lie.
Listen more. Smile. Take a few deep breaths. Relax.

And remember regardless of what happens over the next year, five years, or decade, don’t ever give up on your HUGE dreams.
But girl, you better be willing to work for them.

<3F

p.s. It’s a good reminder for myself. 🙂