Dear Beautiful,

First off, hang in there. That's my biggest piece of advice for you and trust me I know it's easier said than done. I have spent far too many years hating myself and let me tell you, I know it's exhausting. It takes up every ounce of energy you have in your body to hate yourself but yet you keep on doing it. I know you have it in your head that you aren't good enough or that someone out there is better than you are. I know how you feel baby girl but it isn't true.

I have a feeling you have spent endless hours comparing yourself to every girl that walks past you. "She's smaller than I am" or "Why can't I have her hair?" These exact thoughts have gone through my head and let me tell you something. It is nothing but toxic for your brain. I started poisoning myself from an age too young that I would like to admit but that means nothing now. I spent days and nights trying to figure out what was wrong with me. One day I realized something, there was nothing wrong with me but wit everyone around me pressuring me to be a person I could and would never be.

Think about it, if you weren't you who would have a cute little laugh and crinkle up her nose when she finds something funny. Who would be the photographer at every family event or the cook at every family celebration? There is no one out there exactly like you and that is what I realized. I spent far too long depending on other people for my happiness and no one deserves that. While you're looking at this "perfect" girl, she is looking at a different girl asking the exact same questions you are. So if you don't like the little bit of baby fat on your face or the number on the tag of your jeans, don't hate it but embrace it because it is what makes you the wonderful being that you are.

Love,

A girl who is a work in progress