Today is your sixteenth birthday.
This past year has been..hard. You've been through more than your everyday, average teenage girl. Anorexia has plagued your life, friends have been lost, there have been long periods of isolation. Despite these hardships and more, this has perhaps been the most triumphant year of your life. Sure, Anorexia has plagued your life, but you've retained so much of that life. And, yes, friends have been lost, but only to be regained. Those times of isolation were difficult, but you've managed to overcome it with welcoming people inside your world.
Obviously, this year has been a year of change. Change in a disease that almost took your life, change in your mindset, change in the way you see the world. Among all this change there is one thing that has and will always remain constant -- you. You are more amazing and wonderful than you will ever know. Even if the little whisper in your ear tells you the opposite, nothing about you is not good enough, not pretty enough, not skinny enough. You are you, and that's all you need to be.
This letter is odd, yes, considering the sending and receiving end are the same. But, hopefully, you will look back on this letter 15, 20 years from now and know that this is the truth. Hopefully, you will have found that you love yourself regardless of appearance, flaws, and mistakes.
Being sixteen, although still young, is a blessing. You have made it this far and you have so much life ahead of you. Don't waste it. Enjoy it. Love it. Live it.
Love,
Happy Sweet Sixteen!
ReplyDeleteI wish the best for you <3
HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMILY!!
ReplyDeleteI am a huge fan of writing letters to oneself :). it's like journaling, but it sort of slows the moment down and allows you to really capture the thoughts that mean most to ya. You have had such a trying year, and i hope that this next one will be healthy and full of good times.
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I am SO very thrilled that you won my giveaway, especially considering you are turning 16!!!!!!! You are a beautiful being, and I am honored to have made your 'acquaintance' via the world wide web.
ReplyDelete<3
Enjoy your big day!
happy birthday sweetheart. this post was beautiful <3 almost as beautiful as you <3
ReplyDeletehappy birthday emily! i just want you to know that this letter is amazing, and it definitely took tons of courage to sit down and write, and it brought tears to my eyes. you are right, years from now you WILL look back on this and realize how right you were and be able to recognize yourself as the amazingly beautiful person you truly are, inside and out. i love you girl! make your sweet sixteen one to remember! i regret mine, and you don't want to do the same, so show ED who rules :)
ReplyDelete♥ lindsey
Happy Birthday, Beautiful Girl.
ReplyDeletelove you.
strong. beautiful. and able to overcome all things <3
It's so empowering to write letters to yourself. I've done the same, it was a real wake up call!
ReplyDeleteLet this 16th year of your life be better than the one before, a time for change and growth! I'm here right along with ya!
Happy birthday!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a beautiful letter. I hope you look back on it years from now as the beginning of a healthy happy year... and beyond!
Rachael*
This is a beautiful post.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday love.
beautiful.
ReplyDeletehappy birthday love.
xoxo
awww yay! happy birthday! i love love love your post! :)
ReplyDeleteweird? not at all.. this is lovely, uplifting, and inspiring. Hope your birthday is the best one yet! xo
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Girl!
ReplyDeleteThis was so positive and celebratory :) You deserve to have an amazing birthday. May your sixteenth year on this earth be a wonderful one :)
<3
Tat
Happy Birthday (again lol) Emily!
ReplyDeleteYou have overcome so much this past year and made so much progress, you deserve to be truly proud of yourself. I hope the next chapter of your life is full of happiness :)
xo
Happy, Happy Birthday Emily! I hope that all of your goals, wishes, and aspirations come true in 2010!!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, the book is in the mail to you!! :)
Happy Birthday! I wish you all the best:) Your letter so sweet and such a good idea.
ReplyDeleteI also got a Mac recently and I love love it!
Happy birthday sweetie... wishing you all the best. I love that letter to yourself... you are so sweet!
ReplyDeleteHappy Sweet Sixteen, Emily!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeletexoxox
Happy Birthday!! Here's to another beautiful year!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Emily! I hope you have a great 16th year. It is the sweetest year for sure
ReplyDeleteYour beautiful letter brought happy tears to my eyes. Happy belated Birthday sweetheart! Love, Aunt Maryann
ReplyDelete