Things I hope you always know.
Another day has reached its close,
And from your head down to your toes,
Now's the time to settle in.
And wait for sleep to soon begin.
There will be mornings bright and new.
Good things will find their way to you.
People you'll be glad to know.
Places you can't wait to go.
There's so much in the world to see.
So many things you'll come to be.
New things to love.
New things to find.
New dreams to dream up with your mind.
So settle in now,
Soft and deep.
I'll stay with you while you wait for sleep.
And as the seasons come and go,
Here are some things I hope you know.
When days feel heavy,
Strange,
Or new,
There's still a steady light in you.
You don't need answers right away.
Bit by bit,
You'll find your way.
You don't have to race or run.
Or prove your worth by what you've done.
Some things need time to bloom and grow,
And you are allowed to take it slow.
You won't be good at everything.
That doesn't change the gifts you bring.
Some things will feel especially tough,
But you will always be enough.
You don't need it all worked out.
That is not what life's about.
You're here to wander,
Play,
Explore.
Try things you haven't tried before.
You'll make mistakes.
All of us do.
It's all part of becoming you.
Sorry,
Learn and grow.
And add more to the things you know.
You'll be brave,
And sometimes scared too.
And you won't always feel prepared.
But you can take just one small step,
And looking back,
Be glad you left.
Sometimes you will ask for help.
And sometimes do it by yourself.
No one goes it all alone,
But in the end,
This life's your own.
Some days bring anger,
Some bring tears,
Some bring worry,
Doubt,
And fear.
Feelings come and feelings go,
Like a river down they flow.
One hard moment,
One hard day,
Doesn't mean it stays that way.
Storms will gather,
Skies will gray,
The clouds will always drift away.
There's room for me and room for you,
And I promise you this part is true.
That you don't have to shrink or hide,
Just be the you you are inside.
Not everyone will understand the way you think or where you stand.
You don't need them to agree,
To say,
I'm happy being me.
Be kind to all,
Including you,
Especially when you're feeling blue.
From the start until the end,
You'll always be your own best friend.
You can love and still say no.
You can care and still let go.
You can step back.
You can choose what you will keep and what you'll lose.
You're not here to make each face happy every time and place.
You can care and still decide what is yours to hold inside.
If someone else succeeds before you reach the thing you're reaching for,
Their light can shine and yours can too.
There's room enough for both of you.
And when another person shines,
Your story still unfolds in time.
You only see a little view.
Their road is theirs.
Yours is for you.
And if the road you chose before just doesn't feel right anymore,
You can turn and choose again.
It's never too late to begin.
Notice little bits of good.
Sun through leaves walks in the wood.
A favorite song.
A hand to hold.
A joke that somehow won't get old.
Notice puddles after rain.
Clouds that never look the same.
A song you always love to sing.
Tiny things worth noticing.
Notice how the moon can glow,
Lighting up the world below,
Stars that sparkle way up high,
Like tiny lanterns in the sky.
Notice laughter,
Warm and bright,
Cozy blankets late at night,
Someone reaching for your hand,
Little joys you hadn't planned.
Notice waves that reach the shore,
Then roll away and come once more,
Seashells hiding in the sand,
Treasures fitting in your hand.
Notice something funny too.
Silly things that make you you.
Jokes that make your belly quake.
Faces only you can make.
Never shrink or hide from view the truths that you believe are true.
How you wonder,
Laugh,
And see is part of who you're here to be.
You don't have to earn your place or run somebody else's race.
You don't have to prove or do what anyone expects you to.
Stay curious,
Keep asking why.
Watch a beetle wander by.
Pick up stones,
Look up at stars.
Wonder what it's like on Mars.
If you're not sure,
It's fine to say,
Hmm,
I don't know that yet today.
There is room to learn what's true,
And leave some space for something new.
Wherever you wander,
Wherever you go,
However you change,
However you grow,
Here is what I know is true.
Bye.
That there is only one of you.
You are more than what you make.
And more than every step you take.
There's no other you,
You're the only one.
Under the moon,
Under the sun.
You can start a thousand times,
There's no final finish line.
You can pause,
Breathe,
Try anew.
Your journey belongs just to you.
There are people left to meet.
Songs you haven't heard complete.
Meals you'll love and roads you'll roam.
New places that will feel like home.
There are mornings still ahead.
Words you haven't heard or said.
Days you cannot picture yet.
Friends and family you haven't met.
Love the people by your side.
Cheer them on and share their pride.
Tell them what they mean to you.
Let them know you love them too.
When someone speaks,
Take time to hear the things they hope and the things they fear.
A listening ear,
A little care,
Can tell someone you're really there.
Do some things just for the fun,
Not because they must be done.
Sing off key,
Or play kazoo.
Just to bring more joy to you.
Don't rush past the good you find.
Speeding through your precious time.
Much of life is simply this,
Being in moments you'll one day miss.
You can come and you can go.
You can say yes,
You can say no.
You can lose your way sometimes,
Then find another path in time.
And on the days you feel unsure,
When answers slip away or blur,
I hope some quiet part of you remembers what's always been true.
That when you want to hear,
Touch,
See,
Your body is the place to be.
Treat it gently as you grow.
It takes you everywhere you go.
And now the day has reached its end.
The night is here,
A quiet friend.
There's nothing more for you to do.
Be there for you.
So settle in now,
Soft and slow,
With all these things deep down you know,
And as you're drifting down to sleep.
Know all these words are yours to keep.
