Dear Kelsey, I saw your tears,

In times of doubt and valid fears.

This letter is to show you how

Your tears have built what you have now.
They told you not to cry, to keep

Your tears for something more deep.

But still you cried, out of sight,

And used tears for your dreams’ delight.
Remember when you ran that race,

you went to the bathroom to have some space.
On the way back you were met with disdain,
You let their words fuel your pain.
A friend who turned her back so cold,

Her words, the sharpest, loudest bold.

Each bullet word, it pierced you through,

Yet stoic, strong, you never withdrew.
You took that hurt and raced ahead,

With lungs on fire, eyes seeing red.

You came in first, with pain as fuel,
Transforming hurt, your special tool.
Transmutation is your super power,

From tears, your strength blossoms like a flower.

Abuse, rejection, hate, and scorn,

All turned to love, a new you born.
What I love most about you is this,
You take pain and make happiness.
Your tears now form a mighty sea,

Of justice, love, and harmony.

You honor body, spirit whole,

An inspiration, from your heart and soul.
Fearless, towards your dreams you run,

With love, your journey’s just begun.

Authentic, true in all you do,

Forever, always, Kelsey, you.

Not a big deal, she said
Everybody does this she thought
But being creative is one of the biggest blessings
It means winning every school project
Escape with my aunt
Be proud of my accomplishments
The excitement of start to finish
The chocolate piano making music sing
The t-shirts of Percy Jackson fighting high in the sky
The valentines boxes impressing the judges
The special birthday cards for special people
The constant inspiration
The constant smiles
The constant love
The constant people
The constant showing off
Impressing the crowd

My Sunshine, I know it’s been a while.
I hadn’t have the time to see you.
I hadn’t have the time to listen to you,
Or watch you play.

My Sunshine, you’ll still light up my world when I see you next.
You’ll laugh like the tinkling drops of a sunshower against my dry skin.
You’ll sing like the scissortails playing across the grass fields of my lonely home,
Or you’ll give me gifts of hopeful flowers when I can’t bear to keep on marching.

My Sunshine, there’s no telling when we’ll see each other, maybe never again,
But wait for me one more day, one more week, one more hour. I’ll see you someday.

To little Cher:

I loved you young.
I love you now.
And I’ll love you old.

Every single version that has brought me to where I am today.
Where I was yesterday.
Where I will be tomorrow.

I love you.

Your unapologetic way of being you.
Each version of you.

From the first word I spoke to the word I am re-learning now…

“No.”
The word is “no.”

It shaped me.
It made me.
And now it’s changing me…
reverting me back into who I was.

I am becoming more and more me than I’ve ever been.

Full circle.

I am me re-becoming me.
Being born again into myself.

Re-learning how I unlearned boundaries.

I said “no.”
Did you hear me?
No, I don’t want it.
No, I don’t like it.
No, I don’t approve.

I protected my own peace.
I drew a very straight line with my “no.”
With my decisiveness.

Somewhere along the way I started to say “yes.”
Yes, even when I didn’t want it.
Even when I didn’t like it.
Even when I didn’t approve.

I tried to keep the peace.
My line was blurred by indecision.

By keeping the peace for everyone else I broke my own.
I destroyed myself pleasing everyone else.

No.
it came around again,
full circle.

My first word that later on I forgot how to say.

Return to your childhood self.
Become the real you.
The you that you were before the world changed you.

And I have.
Thank you little me.

I’m 30 now and I’m learning to say it again.
It gets easier every time.

You find your inner peace again.

Thank you little Cher, for the wisdom you’ve brought back.

~ Older Cher

Hello little one.
You think you don’t know me, but if you saw me, you would recognize me, although you wouldn’t know why. You can be skeptical, and untrusting but it is not your nature. There are people around your who are not well. It’s not their fault and they love you. And they will sometimes say the wrong thing. So please, take a minute to read my words.
You have a life ahead for which you are well suited. Things are not always easy; you have the gift of seeing everyone in their best light. I love that about you because people feel safe with you. Make sure you always see yourself in the same amazing light. You are important too. You crave the safety of being heard, understood, and loved. Not everyone will understand you and that is okay, it’s a lot to ask. Sweetest heart, they can still love you.
Little one, you have the eye of an artist. You want to share the beauty you see with everyone. Do it. Tell the story of your picture, don’t be afraid to draw, there is no such thing as a mistake. It is okay to start over. Don’t let them tell you that you have no talent. You have a spirit that no person can dominate so don’t let the negative comments live in your head. It’s just as easy to toss them in the trash.
Little one your words have meaning and power. Use them in any way you can. Your notes make people laugh, your letters cleanse your soul and bring clarity. Even when speaking fails you, the pen in your hand will not. Put it to paper and bring your light to the page. You have magic in your manor. You have purity of soul; you have the innocence that is inner beauty. It will draw people to you. Stay gentle, stay true to yourself. It is of you to accept others as they are. You know that each is on their own path. Their presence will ebb and flow with your own in the rhythm of life.
Little one, your body is strong and beautiful. It was crafted especially for you. Enjoy moving and dancing! It is good to be upside down! You will fall, you won’t break. If you can think it, you can do it. Your brain, not your body, is your limit. Listen to the wisdom of your body when it wants to move, to stretch, to rest. You don’t have to eat if you are not hungry. Your body will tell you when, and what. I love that you already have that knowledge, and that you are so happy in your skin.
The things that bring you so much joy are in your life to stay. Your dogs, your horses, your art. The love you have for nature and all things outside. You stay grounded and connected to God using all your senses, alone or in concert. You are naturally good at the things it takes others a lifetime to learn. You have the gift of being able to help others see beauty in the same way that you do. Colors, and sounds light and shadow all dance in a symphony of sensation. It is yours to capture in the moment and share. Do it. You are love, and compassion, you are fury and peace, you are the cacophony and the silence. There is power in your words and peace in your touch. You are all things in one package. You do need friends, always. You desire a partner. The closest people in your life should complement and challenge you. There is no such thing as love that intentionally inflicts pain. Please, please remember that.
Little one, you are amazing, talented, and free. Trust yourself, see the beauty around you. If you trip, pretend you are flying. And live each day as if it is the best day ever.