We begin with a personal story:

A few months ago, I met a girl. She was a very pretty girl. I admired her from a distance. The further away I was, the safer I felt. Despite my brain begging her not to come any closer, she proceeded without hesitation.

Please. Do not come any closer. I don’t want to talk to you.

I talked to her.

Stop. I can’t listen to you anymore.

She continued. I listened.

I can’t listen! Every word you say is…

perfect.

As I sit here writing this, I am filled with regret. Every word you said that day was perfect. Every word you have ever said to me was perfect. Everything about you is perfect. I hate that word. Perfect. It comes so easily to you. It comes so easily to so many people. Me, I’m not perfect. I have never been perfect. I would love to be perfect. However, there is something holding me back.

There is something gripping me tightly. It won’t let go. No matter what I do, I can’t escape its grasp. Do I even want to escape? There is something so familiar and comforting about this grasp. That’s because it is my own grasp. The only thing holding me back is me.

Yes, I would have loved to tell you how beautiful you are. I would have loved to tell you how your laugh warms my heart every time I hear it. I would have loved to tell you that you are truly one of the kindest, most genuine human beings that I have ever met. I would have loved to tell you so many things.

It didn't happen. I never could have told you any of that. Instead, I am sitting on my bed writing an overly-emotional piece that I probably will not submit to my editor. I want to submit it. I want you to read these words. I just couldn't ever say them to you. I can’t allow myself to do that. I never could.

Dear reader,

I want you to understand something. I never did work up the courage to express my feelings to that girl. Of course I wish I had. Unfortunately, the opportunity presented itself and I let it go by. I lost my chance. Please do not lose your chance. You don’t have to be like me. Many people just like me fight this same issue on a daily basis. So many have lost that battle. I am just another fallen soldier. You can be successful. You can be the hero of your own story. I know how you feel. I just wrote all about it. You need to know that you can do it.

Whatever is giving you anxiety those terrible feelings, you can overcome it. You can go into that interview and get the job. You can go in front of your class and give the speech of a lifetime. You can go up to that boy or girl and say “Hey! I like you” because it doesn’t matter what they say back. Sure, it’s awesome if they like you too.

However, if they don’t, there is no need to stress. Relax. Take a nap. Eat some pizza. Watch Netflix with your Bulldog named Carlos. Do whatever you need to do, because you will get through it. Someday, when you least expect it, you are going to meet the person that you have been looking for all along. They will like you back. They will love you back. So when that time comes, do not throw away your shot. You'll be glad you didn't. I promise.

If you take just one thing away from this article, I hope it's this:

“You are enough. You are so enough. It is unbelievable how enough you are.” – Sierra Boggess