Dear Readers,

Have you ever thought about sitting down and writing yourself a note? I think doing so helps me because I am sitting here letting the one person who knows me best write down whatever they want about me. I honestly have no clue what I am going to write myself; I guess that just all depends on my mood and my music playing at the time. Let's get started.

Letter for Ruby Ansley Raines 

Well here we are in your room on a Sunday. I don’t really know where to start with this… Well I do know you have had a great life for a 19-year-old. Coming from yourself, I see you as an extraordinary person who is blessed beyond measure. You have been through so much and you have made it through life events, even when you thought you would not. 

Growing up with you so far has been a challenge for everyone, because you aren't always nice. You had moody tendencies. Sometimes your actions would confuse me, but I knew you always knew what was best for yourself.

I have never trusted anyone as much as I trust you. Sometimes I even doubted you, but you proved to me that you were stronger than what people perceived you to be. Now I can’t say that I always liked you, but I knew what you were going through. You have seen death in your family, you have felt the immense pain of heartbreak and what toll it takes on your body and you have felt depression. These things have brought you to your knees. And even though you give your friends advice about these moments in life, you have yet to take your own advice. 

You are a difficult person. 

But Ansley, you have seen more sunshine than rain. You have seen life with the birth of your nephew, you have made memories with great friends, you have experienced Christmas with hot chocolate and movies. You are a strong, beautiful lady and there are going to be times when you do not think that. There are going to be times where you think you're fat, ugly, and bad, times where you aren’t going to be able to go on any longer.

But remember that you are what you let yourself become. You deserve love, happiness, success and a bright future. The only one who will ever stop is you. Remember you have felt love, happiness, success and you have made it to the future from your 16-year-old self. There is so much to learn about who you are and who you are becoming, and I am here with you every step of the way. 

Love, Me <3 

“She’s gonna learn that this life will hit you, hard, in the face, wait for you to get back up so it can kick you in the stomach. But getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air. There is hurt here that cannot be fixed by Band-Aids or poetry, so the first time she realizes that Wonder Woman isn’t coming, I’ll make sure she knows she doesn’t have to wear the cape all by herself. Because no matter how wide you stretch your fingers, your hands will always be too small to catch all the pain you want to heal. Believe me, I’ve tried.” – Sarah Kay, poet