As we continue to grow, we constantly find that we struggle to not only find ourselves, but to accept our own self as something worthy of being seen or even loved. In most cases, this line of thinking starts around middle school, probably the most awkward and hated time of our entire school existence, because somehow, this is when we start falling into the trap of the media's expectations of us. You see, the media has this way of showing us that we aren't perfect just the way we are; that we always have to look and act a certain way, as if pretending to be something we're not is much better than being unique and loved genuinely for who we are. I'm here to tell you that in this regard, the media could not be any more wrong.

So listen up. I know that we have all gone through different situations that caused us to doubt our own worth and that's a hard trap to get out of, but I just want you to know that I think you are all perfect and beautiful as you are. I cannot stress this enough. You are worth way more than you could even imagine, because you are unique in all of the world. It's all these little things that are unique only to you that make you amazing and perfect as you are, because not one person could ever replace you in this world. Not one. You do not need the approval of anybody to be yourself or to understand that you are worth it, because let me tell you something; you are perfect and awesome and beautiful, among so many other things; whether I choose to acknowledge it or not. Just because I chose to acknowledge how wonderful and unique you are, does not mean you weren't any of those things before I saw it.

So stop hating yourself for every thing you are not. Stop comparing yourself to everybody else. Stop wishing to be someone other than yourself. Start loving yourself for everything that you are. See that you are worthy for being just as you are. Understand that you will always be enough and the right people will know that right away. The ones that don't see just how amazing you are, need to be shown to the door that leads out of your life, because you do not need that kind of negativity stopping you from accepting that will always be perfect as you are.

Growing up, I was made fun of quite a bit, mostly because I was a huge nerd and didn't try to impress my peers by following the social norms. It wasn't anything too horrible, mostly name calling, but that can get to you after a while. Once I learned to shut out all of that negativity, life became much easier. Even more so when I learned to embrace who I was. Yeah, I like to sit in a room by myself and read for hours and yes, I often binge watch all of my favorite shows and shut myself out from everybody else, from time to time, as I reflect on everything going on in life. And for those of you who know me, you're probably not at all surprised to find that I play Dungeons & Dragons every Saturday night, because it's creative, engaging and loads of fun. I love going to church and I often journal about how the message pertains to my life and what I can do to be a better person. I'm not a perfect person, because I mess up all the time, but I am a perfect me and I'm proud of who I am; I hope you are proud of who you are, too.