I don’t know you. I don’t know anything about your past. And I don’t know what you’re going through right now. Maybe you’re having trouble in school. Maybe you’re struggling to make things work financially. Maybe you’re having problems with your family. Maybe you just broke up with your boyfriend and you’re having a really hard time shaking it. I don’t know you and I don’t know your story, but I’ll bet you anything that we’re much more similar than you'd think.

If you’re anything like me, you wake up in the morning already feeling overwhelmed and anxious about the day ahead. If you’re anything like me, you’ve been a little down on yourself lately and you can’t seem to snap yourself out of it no matter how hard you try. And if you’re anything like me, you’re in a lot of pain right now, and you’re working overtime to make sure that all the people around you don’t get even the tiniest inkling that something might be wrong. To those people, you’re the girl who always has it together. You’re the girl who knows how to solve any kind of problem. You’re the girl that’s calm in a crisis and can always keep her head above the water. You would probably rather die than admit to anyone, even the people closest to you, that for the first time you sort of feel like you’re drowning.

I want you to know that you are very, very special. You don’t want anyone to see your pain because you are the kind of person that puts other people’s needs before your own, even if you sometimes feel like no one is ever there for you when you need it. I also want you to know that you are very, very strong. It’s hard enough feeling like life keeps trying to throw you to the wolves, and it’s four times as hard constantly trying to keep that feeling hidden from the rest of the world. As someone who is also dealing with an overwhelming amount of different issues right now, I have the utmost respect for you, because I know what it feels like to be that girl. You’re a true fighter, and I hope that you realize that very soon if you haven’t already.

If you’re reading this, please know that I understand how hard you’re struggling right now, even if we aren’t going through the same things. Know that I appreciate you and how hard you’re working, even if you don’t feel like anyone ever even notices. Know that no matter who you are or where you are, and whether I know you or not, I am here for you, even on the days that you feel completely alone. And know that you are loved and respected, and that I will always be rooting for you, even when it feels like no one else is. There will be moments when all you want to do is quit, but please, please keep your head up and keep moving forward. I know it's raining on you now, but I promise you’ll be out of the storm before you know it.

All my love.