Dear Me, Dear You

Dear me,

You are not your thoughts at 2 AM

You are not anxiety in a crowded room

You are not your grades

You are not who you were in middle school

You are not your weight or the inches of your body

You are not your random outbursts or awkward conversations

You are not people’s first impressions

You are not everything you did wrong five years ago

You are not your mistakes

Dear me,

You are allowed to learn. Yes, even now, right where you’re at

You are allowed to make mistakes

You are allowed to sit crossed legged on tables

You are allowed to take time for yourself

You are allowed to get a bad mark on that test

You are allowed to be sad

You are allowed to not be ok

You are allowed to be frustrated about things that are unfair

You are allowed to say no

You are allowed to be wrong

You are allowed to have more than one side

You are allowed to take up space

You are allowed to have standards

You are allowed to be loud and gross

You are allowed to open up to people

You are allowed to be scared

You are allowed to succeed

And yes, you are allowed to eat that piece of pizza and not feel guilty afterwards

Dear me,

You do not have to be who people think you are

You do not have to agree with everyone

You do not have an obligation to be pretty and polite all the time

You do not have to explain yourself

You do not have to give reasons to why you are who you are or why you do what you do

You do not have to be ashamed of who you are

Dear me,

Be bold

Be kind

Be honest

Be loud

Be a muse

Be a friend

And make mistakes

But never make yourself out of your downfalls.