Encouragement

Sometimes we just need a little encouragement.  I will be the first to admit that.  Some days, I'm 10 feet tall and bulletproof.  Some days, not so much.  Encouragement is so incredibly important.

Encouragement is something that I now struggle with.  It used to come so freely from me, but in the past year, at times, I've found it difficult to be an encourager.  I'm working on that.

I wanted to share two bits that were sent to me recently, because they truly blessed my heart.  I am thankful for you two.

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"You is kind...you is smart...you is important."

"I didn't let you know that enough when you were here.  I think you and I are a lot alike because it's easier to be sarcastic about everything.  And it's way fun, but seldom do we let people know they are appreciated...the ones who need to hear it.

Maybe you and I rub people the wrong way, because they don't know how to take us most of the time, but given time, I think they'd find out we're pretty dang cool.

Sometimes it takes longer for people to notice what's special about us, or even that we have something that makes us special or unique.  Sometimes it takes longer for people to look a little bit deeper than the outer shell that we live in and see what's really there.

Having said that, sometimes as tough as it is, sometimes the most positively active thing we can do is wait.  Wait on what?  Wait on people to notice that thing, whatever it is about us?  People are idiots when it comes to recognizing what is truly there in a person.

You might not think you are the most beautiful person in the world, I know I don't think that about myself.  But given enough time, someone will think so.

So like I said...'You is kind...you is smart...you is important...you is beautiful...you is funny...you is loved!"

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"Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we'll ever do."--Brene Brown

"I want you to know that I appreciate you.  I am grateful for the person that you are.  There aren't many who are brave enough to share their vulnerability the way you have--it's so flattering on you, my friend.  Thank you for choosing to be you, even when it's hard and it turns into a 'sunglasses' day.  I love how you look life straight in the eyeballs--and appreciate you sharing all aspects so that people know they're not alone.  You are so loved, deeply loved.  I hope that on the tough days you can find the strength that you possess.--You are enough.

Thank you for sharing your bravest moments, as well as your falls, and especially those experiences that are the integration of those two.  You are enough, AKS.  You are, you always have been, and you always will be."