Dear Me,

Well, guess what? You’re an artist now. Who knew you had it in you? That part of yourself you envied in others and buried has finally come to light. All the while, you don’t loathe yourself as much as you used to. We’re still a work in progress, always will be, I suppose. But we like it that way. Life around us is always changing. It’s only fitting we do the same.

On another note, you’ve found the love of your life. I know you wondered and waited for him. But he was worth the wait, as were you to him. His love and loyalty have pushed you far beyond what you thought possible. His strength is there on days where you believe you have none. He sees infinite possibilities in you and that encouragement was all you needed to take a leap of faith for yourself. The moments of pure joy you experience together are worth more than any wealth found in this lifetime. He was worth the wait.

Life has brought us many challenges, as one might expect. You have greeted each of them with acceptance and you’re much more resilient than you know. All the self-criticism you hold on to so dearly doesn’t compare to the strength you receive from love. It’s okay to let it all go. Believe it or not, but you create all the doubt and fear you feel. It’s the greatest gift of all – energy. Once we learned to embrace these feelings as a friend, rather than an enemy, you could recognize your own strength and power.

We’re here to remind others of all that is good and beautiful in this world and you excel at it. Your creativity is a gift you will share with the world. One day, crochet will open the door again to the creative spark within you and you’ll follow your own yellow brick road. You never know where it’ll take you, but you can’t wait to find out. And I can honestly say I’m proud of you for not giving up. The world needs you and I. Let’s hug it out. I love you.

Much love,
Kelly Anne

Style Score: 100%

When you think of spring, does the word blossom come to mind? We eagerly await the tulips blooming, the monarch butterflies emerging from their cocoon, and a warm breeze after our winter slumber. Mother Nature enforces change, regardless of our desires. Do we not have the same rhythms in our internal world? Our cells are constantly renewing, our hormones are varying, and we’re all familiar with getting older. All of this happens without our choice. However, we can decide whether we embrace this change or resist it with all our might.
Life has brought me a plethora of experiences with change lately. But if I really think about it, so much has remained the same. I live on an island where the weather doesn’t vary too much with what we consider the seasons. It leaves me to focus more intently on the internal changes. Much of my recent growth comes from both leaving things behind and carrying others with me. My newest companions are awareness and appreciation. Their encouragement is the reason for leaving judgments and expectations behind. Just as a bee encourages a flower to reproduce by spreading its pollen, my companions are encouraging me to blossom by sharing my story.
My life has blossomed lately because I’m finally exploring my interests and passions. When I’m creating, it brings me back to myself. I’ve spent much of my life taking information in and appreciating others’ creations. With this new chapter, I can embody the creative being that I am and find the vulnerability within to share that with the world. When I’m sharing my creations, whether it’s crochet, writing, or digital art, I find my life blossoming. Embracing a fear of judgment and removing expectations offers the courage needed to take a leap of faith. Now I blossom from self-appreciation without waiting for it from someone else. I’m learning to appreciate whatever I create and have learned to love the creative process since dropping judgments and expectations.

Style Score: 100%

To my long-lost pillow, I love you so dearly,
it crushed me to learn I lost you so clearly.
You stayed by my side for more years than I remember,
I treated you like my own family member.
A gift from my sister one cold Christmas Day,
I discovered memory foam is the only way.
I’m impressed you still held the perfect shape,
always cradling my head right at my nape.
You followed me wherever I went,
from Hawaii to Alaska, in my suitcase you were sent.
I couldn’t bear to sleep without you,
for I always felt comforted, even in some place new.
Unexpectedly, on a road trip you were lost,
I had to repack the car but was it worth the cost?
You meant the world to me,
now my bed is empty and you were set free.
Does anyone love their pillow so much?
I suppose it’s good to free myself from a crutch.
My new pillow will never replace you,
for you are the truest of true.
While I’m grateful for all the years we had together,
now, in my memory, you’ll be my treasure.
I love you, my cherished pillow,
I’ll think of you when I see the dreamy willow.
Style Score: 100%

Dear Fear,

I want to say I don’t know who you are, but we both know that to be false. You scare the living daylights out of me. Make me forget that I’m in charge. But I believe I cannot control you, so I’m at your mercy. Anger comes to my aid, trying to thwart or deter you. It works for a moment or two before you grab hold of me once again.

If I had it my way, I wouldn’t keep you around. You hold me back from new experiences too often. But how can I be so callous? You are also my protector when danger approaches. You give me energy and you point me toward my desires. These mixed feelings bring much confusion. Maybe that’s all part of the plan! How can I remove you when I also need you?

No matter how strong my desires are, we cannot get rid of each other. So let us coexist. This fear of failure or imperfection has driven us to succeed in ways we never imagined. But it has also crippled our creativity for half our life. Indecision became a byproduct of you, among other things, such as procrastination and self-criticism. How are these to help us? If we are to thrive together, then I must learn to accept you for who you are. The same applies to me. I desperately need to accept myself. Only then can we work together. Without acceptance, I am left with resistance.

Looks like we’re going to spend more time with each other now. I’ve taken you for granted, as well as myself. Appreciation is the remedy for that. But I doubt my ability to do this. Maybe that’s your voice, reminding me of the importance of this mission. Resistance is futile, right? We will figure this out together. I can still feel a fear of failing. But I suppose that tells me I’m still ALIVE.

Much love,
Kelly Anne

Style Score – 100%