To the Upcoming Generation of Girls

To the Upcoming Generation of Girls,

You are amazing....yes YOU.  You have so many unique qualities and you haven't even uncovered half of them yet.  You are just cracking the surface.  As you get older, you will reveal so much about the beautiful soul that you are within.  Every step of your journey will help you become a more true you.  You are beautiful inside and out.

It will not always be easy.  In fact, sometimes you will get so frustrated that you'll cry.  Take the time to do it.  Take the time to cry. Take the time to let your emotions be what they are.  If you're sad, let yourself be sad for a little while...and then remember how much more you have ahead of you.  If you're angry, let yourself be angry for awhile....and then remember all the blessings you have to be thankful for.  If you're scared, let yourself be scared....and then remember that you are stronger than you realize.  Learn to express your emotions in a healthy way while you're young and always go back to remembering that you are on a great journey toward something wonderful.

Don't let the world harden you.  Don't believe the hype of the diva celebrities that treat everyone like garbage.  It's all an act.  People that are truly confident with who they are don't have to be cruel to others because they are not in competition with anyone.  In fact, those that are truly happy and confident with who they are want to help others not use someone else's back to climb on to get to their next goal.  We aren't born to be hardened and we aren't born to be alone.  Don't let your circumstances harden your heart.

Be bold! Don't worry about what the trends are; trends are fleeting.  Don't worry about whether or not everyone likes you because not everyone will.  In fact, true trendsetters are often disliked or judged by many....let them judge.  Their judgments do not affect who you are.  Their judgments mean nothing to your overall journey.  They can see your strength and they feel threatened.  In the face of critics, just smile and be happy with who you are.  It says more about you than them.

It's okay to be feminine.  It seems like the focus is so much on strength now that we forget that you can be strong and feminine.  You can be opinionated and keep your mouth silent at times.  You can be strong and allow yourself to be vulnerable sometimes.  You don't have to pretend to be something that you're not.  You don't have to be a full-on feminist to know that you have the strength within you to do anything you want.  You can empower yourself and others without tearing down the opposite sex.

Your body is your own.  Let me repeat that...your body is your own.  No one...and I repeat NO ONE has the right to make you feel like you need to show more of it in order to succeed.  No has the right to make you feel like you are not beautiful if you don't post that "sexy selfie" or if you don't sext some guy.  No one has the right to make you feel as if you are less of a person because you choose not to have sex (of ANY kind including oral).  No one has the right to touch you in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable.  Your body is yours and yours alone.

Let me say this final thought: You are worthy of love. You are not just worthy of lust.  You're not worthy of conditional love if you'll just have sex with him or if you'll just do this for a friend.  You're not worthy of conditional love that says you have to look a certain way or act a certain way.  You're worthy of completely unconditional love and when the time is right, it will find you.  Don't rush into it to blend in and don't accept anything less.  You are complete on your own.

Take these words into your heart and repeat them like a mantra.  Know that you are amazing.

Sincerely,
A Woman That Took a Long Time to Learn These Things