Ok - so this came at an amazingly apropos time for me. I just got dumped by a long time friend and I was sinking into tears and worry and I started writing this and it feels so much better now.
I loved this challenge - thank you!! I made an art journal type page that I am super proud of!
Journaling:
Dear Future Self,
If there is anything that I can say to you that hopefully will get through to your heart, it’s this: Never forget the little girl inside of you. I have enclosed a picture of you when you were 6 years old. See that innocent face? See the promise of the world in those eyes? Look deeply into them. Spend some time re-acquainting yourself with her.
Life is going to try to squash you. It’s going to be painful, and things are going to happen that make you feel as if your very breath will stop inside of you. Do NOT give up, and do NOT give in to the pain.
Know without a shadow of a doubt that God is with you, and He will redeem and soothe all of the pain you feel inside.
When the biggest hurt you’ve ever experienced happens, do not fear. In that moment you will feel as if your very life blood is leaving your body and you don’t know if you will ever recover. Feel the feelings, but let this picture remind yourself that you know the outcome: redemption, restoration, and transformation. They are your gifts from the storm, and things will be better than they ever were because of the storm.
More than anything else, I want to tell you to never give up on being a loving and positive person. There will be those who do not understand your journey. That’s okay. You don’t need anyone’s approval, and they don’t need to understand your journey - they need to respect it.
If someone does not respect you, let them go. You cannot make someone love you, and you cannot make someone respect you.
Finally, my sweet self, don’t ever regret the choices you’ve made, or wish you could change the past. Every single thing that happened, good or bad, brought you to the blessings and the place you are in your life. You can’t change the past, so don’t waste one second of time worrying about it.
Life is in the now - in the blessings you have now. Appreciate them all, and for God’s sake, stop putting yourself down.
You are enough, I promise!
Love, Me.
Credits: Etc. by Danyale "Everyday Brave"