You

 You are brilliant. Wonderfully made with the moonbeams in your cheeks. The sun dances in your smile and the rain kisses your skin.

You are strong. Effervescently fierce and you carry your loads like the wind does a sail.

 You are intelligent. Wit sparks your eye and your sharp mind captures the unnoticed.

 You are abnormal. Normalcy shouldn't be an aim, because you are far beyond that. You thrive in your uniqueness and embrace everything that makes you you.

 You are beauty. For beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and you have a beautiful eye. So you notice the beauty wherever you go, no matter the path, scenery, or change of view.

 You are charming. Your laugh fills the twilight evening with warmth like that of midsummer's night with fireflies in a backyard. Your sweet words and ready smiles only make us love you the more. 

You are going places. This town can't hold you down. You're too full of adventure and life to stay here for too long. Your soul longs for the dusty trail and the stories to be written. You know it won't be easy, but you are willing to work hard to get there. You dream of lands and seas you've yet to see.

  You are more than enough. You are loved beyond comprehension by the only One that matters. He bled and died so that you could grow and thrive. All of your struggles, issues, and flaws added up and rolled together still don't come close to making you worth any less. 

You are worth it all.

xoxo,

Release

Like the sparrow on the branch. I was reminded that life today is yours. Today you woke up and already your day has been filled with all sorts of choices. Do I sleep the extra 10 minutes? To breakfast or not? What to wear? Do I really need to stop for a coffee? Am I grumpy this morning? What kind of day am I going to have today? That's the initial process of my morning routine. The questions above usually set the tone for my day early on. 

There's a thrill in knowing that there is no set way you have to go about your life. You can do anything. Be what you most desire to be! Just because everyone is going to college does not mean you have to in order to be successful. You have the power to decide against it, and backpack across Europe instead if you wish it. Visit the Bahamas on a whim. Go skydiving and take the jump! Be fearless. 

Don't allow things to tie you down and keep you from using your wings to their maximum potential. Resist the urge to settle, to raise a white flag, or to stop fighting against the current. Your strength comes from above, and nothing can stop you. If God is for me, who can be against me?

When you can't seem to remember your reasons for existing, remember you have reasons to live. Don't live to survive, but live to thrive. Live with a radiant smile, contagious joy, and the ultimate peace that it will all be okay. Live it like it's your last because you only get one shot. Forget your yesterdays and focus on your todays. Tomorrows will come soon enough.

xoxo,