These thank you notes are dedicated to the women who make us who we are: the mothers and grandmothers who give us life, the sisters that understand us like no one else ever could, and the friends who stand by us no matter what.

1. To My Mom,

You brought me into the world, but you hardly stopped there. You have fed me, clothed me, wiped my tears away, put band-aids on my bloody knees, taught me my numbers and ABC’s… but what you have done that is more important and valuable than any of those things is loved me. You have loved me unconditionally. You have loved me through laughs, fights, and many, many mistakes. And through this, you have taught me that love is at the root of all things in life. By loving me, you have taught me to extend that love to others, even when I may not understand them. You have taught me that love is not a weakness, but a strength. You have taught me to extend that love also to myself. You have shown me that is important to love myself as I am, flaws and all. You have taught me that beauty is about more than outward appearance; it is about compassion, intelligence, empathy, and the courage to stand up for what you believe in. You have taught me that it is okay to be unique and swim against the tide sometimes. You have taught me that life is worth living, even through the pain. You have taught me that with pain come lessons, and with lessons come growth. Thank you for always reminding me the value in staying true to oneself. Thank you for always supporting and encouraging me. Thank you for teaching me. Thank you for being there when it feels like the world is falling apart, and for showing me that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you for laughing with me, crying with me, and all that falls in between. Thank you for loving me. And, thank you for all the lessons you have yet to teach me.

2. To My Sister,

You have been my dearest friend and ally from the beginning. You have been my guidepost- the person I turn to when life isn’t making sense and I feel like no one understands. You endured my sticky kid-hands trying to grasp your hair, my biting phase, and my sassy phase(s). You remained (mostly) patient when I didn’t understand why I couldn’t hang out with you when you had friends over. You let me sneak into your room at night when I had a nightmare. You have been my role model, and you have taught me more than you know. You have taught me to embrace the adventures that life thrusts upon you. You have reassured me time after time that I was not alone, and no matter what happened, we would always have each other to lean on. You have taught me that to be unapologetically authentic is a feat in and of itself and that you should never compromise who you are to fit in any mold or please any person. You have taught me, more than anyone, that past struggles in no way dictate your future. Thank you for showing me that nothing can dull the light within you if you live life with an open mind and an open heart.

3. To My Nana*,

It is because of you that I have the family I have, and for that, I could not be more grateful. You have shown me that when all else fails, there is always family. You have exemplified what it means to love people wholeheartedly, and how even if that love causes constant worry about the well-being of those people, it’s worth it. You have taught me to never be pressured to be anything other than what I am. You have been the world’s best babysitter, complete with giggles and a consistently stocked pantry. You have taught me how to master the art of finding four leaf clovers, and how some good ole homemade soup can cure any sickness. Thank you for always being my dance partner. Thank you for keeping me cool in the summers with an endless supply of popsicles. Thank you for teaching me that it is okay to be silly and that sometimes all you can do is laugh. I count myself lucky every day to have grown up with such a loving, strong woman like you.

4. To My Girlfriends,

You know who you are. Family is important, but family doesn’t always mean by blood. Family is what surrounds you with love, support, and fun, and you all have done nothing less. Thank you for reminding me about how complex and different girls can be, and how that makes us even more remarkable. Thank you for making me laugh so hard that I cry. Thank you for taking hundreds of dumb pictures that we can look back on years later. Thank you for girl’s nights with movies, food, face masks, and, of course, wine. Thank you for sharing your stories, (and stories about your cousin’s ex girlfriend’s sister). Thank you for keeping me up to date on who’s who and what’s what. Each of you has taught me different lessons, and each of you has given me different perspectives. You have taught me about the strength of girl friendships, and that sometimes, the support of a friend means more than anything. Thank you for knowing when I need to talk, and knowing when I just need to eat some pizza and get over it. Thank you for shaping me and helping me to grow, and for being a constant reminder of how cool it is to be a girl.

*see also: Grandma, Grandmother, Nanny, Mimi, etc.