dear girl

In honor of the 

{International Day of the Girl}

Here are some words that I wrote this summer

after working with middle-school aged girls 

who reminded me a lot of myself at that age

and I just hope they KNOW that they're 

just fine 

just the way they are <3

Dear Girl, 

I know that life isn't always 

easy right now

I know that this feeling 

of swirling in emotions 

of learning to love a brain and body

that is changing and growing 

can be confusing 

and frankly tiring at times

I know that the world is 

telling you to be something 

successful 

something 

gorgeous 

something 

perfectly photoshopped 

graceful and ladylike

but adventurous and strong 

but not TOO strong 

because maybe that means you're 

not a girl at all

I know that the world is 

telling you to speak your mind 

but not to be divisive 

tell people how you feel

but not to be emotional 

be athletic 

but for goodness sake 

don't "throw like a girl"

be healthy 

but measure health 

by the thickness of your thighs

I know that the world is 

telling you that 

makeup

big breasts

flat bellies 

tight butts 

thigh gaps

clear skin 

the whitest teeth

long/thick hair

and the latest shoes 

and fashion

and social media accounts

will make you more 

valuable 

desirable 

beautiful

wanted 

Oh, my love. 

do you know what? 

I was once a middle school girl 

I cried once because I had a zit 

on my forehead in public

I cried because I burned my lunch 

I cried many times without any idea

of why I was crying at all 

I remember the growing pains

of my body

of my brain 

of my bones

I remember being embarrassed

of my skin 

of my braces

of my frizzy hair

of my period starting

of the music I liked to listen to

of how I felt when a boy smiled at me

of...

pretty much everything

I remember 

feeling sad 

and glad

and scared 

and excited

and anxious 

all at once

and feeling lost

when I tried to 

explain that to anybody 

besides my Mum

Oh, my love. 

That's no truth to live in. 

The truth is, 

those things 

DO NOT 

DEFINE YOU. 

My dear, 

beauty is in 

kindness

courage 

in scraped knees

in hair blown wild by the wind 

in no hair at all 

beauty is in

compassion

in strength 

in thinking of someone else

first

skin that is changing 

scars 

moles

freckles

crooked teeth 

stubby toes

birth marks

beauty is in 

what makes you 

YOU 

because if we all 

looked the same

talked the same 

dressed the same

nothing would be unique 

or different 

or beautiful

now would it?

And when you 

let the world see you 

exactly how you are 

when you let your laughter 

your wisdom 

and your unstoppable brain 

free

you are giving the world 

a gift 

because no one 

has ever heard anyone

laugh like you 

learned from anyone who 

explores like you 

or seen the world through 

your beautiful 

curious 

eyes

Dear girl, 

I know that life isn't always 

easy right now

truth is?

It will get better. 

truth is?

You are brilliant

you are brave

and you are beautiful 

no matter what 

the world says