To Making Your Own Space:

There's a common occurrence that, sometimes, when you create or accomplish something, you have to be compared to someone else. It can be hard at times to ignore similarities between you and said person without it getting the best of you. However, I want you to know: you are like no other in the world.

There have been times when I felt I needed to do something like another person to accomplish a similar goal. I would often try to fit myself to what people thought was acceptable or even what others thought I should do.

But, that was so long ago. I have the mindset to create a space of my own in this world. No matter how other people arrive at their goals or what they think of how I arrive at mine.

I know I place a ton of clichés in my writing, but I won't retract them: each and every one of us has the ability to create our own hub of individuality.

Was it hard to arrive at this outlook? Absolutely. Do I regret going through that comparison phase? Absolutely not.

Comparing who I was and where I was going to other people made me appreciate myself even more. I understand that sounds like backward thinking, but it helped me to look at myself as one-of-a-kind. Somewhere, out there may be other people who have the same goal in mind, but we will all arrive there at different paces and methods. And this is entirely OK.

What I don't want people to do is to judge someone else's experiences against their own nor should you overshadow the progress you've made by yourself.

Make your own space. Create without fear. Imagine without regrets. Fail but get back up again. Succeed but don't get accustomed to heights.

I know it won't be easy, and I even have days where I need to be reminded. However, I want to instill a sense of positivity that there is a lane, a space that only you can dominate.

Go happily and healthily into that space and create beyond your wildest dreams. May this bring you comfort.

Encouragingly,

Jessica