Welcome.
This is a note to my heart.
Dearest heart,
I love you.
I believe in you.
I know I haven't always been kind to you.
We have not always been friends.
But I see you now,
And I see you then.
Trying.
Willing yourself to grow and change.
I see the commitment and promise in you.
Showing up today and every day.
I hear you now.
I'm listening.
I am here.
Dearest heart,
Thank you for showing up.
Thank you for all the ways that you have been here for me.
Even when I haven't been aware.
When I haven't realized your existence or importance or given value to your presence.
Thank you for the suffering.
For all the ways that you have pushed through.
Even when,
And especially when,
It hurt.
Thank you for showing up every day of my life.
Enduring every heartache,
Every tear,
Every hurt.
Thank you for continuing to beat every second of every day,
Even without encouragement or care.
Dearest heart,
Thank you for the love that you have shown the people in my life.
For the ways that you have listened and cared for them.
Thank you for every tenderness,
Forgiveness,
Gentleness and compassion that you have given the people I love.
Dearest heart,
I'm sorry that I haven't listened and cared for you in the same way.
I'm sorry that I have been absent and afraid to hear your voice.
That I haven't always trusted you.
I'm sorry that I haven't been your ally and your friend.
Dearest heart,
Thank you for showing me when I have been wrong.
For feeling those painful feelings like guilt and shame.
Trying to direct me to a better version of myself.
Trying to show me that I can be better and that I deserve better from myself.
Thank you for the rage,
For that burning fire.
When someone has crossed lines that they shouldn't have.
And I'm sorry that sometimes I've ignored you when you were trying to show me something wasn't right.
Thank you that sometimes your all-consuming power and rage has been the very thing that I have needed.
The fire and fuel to make better decisions for myself and for the people I love.
Dearest heart,
Thank you for beating,
For caring,
For hoping and dreaming.
Thank you for the ways that you have led me to new endeavors,
New horizons,
People,
Places and things.
Thank you for giving me instinct and impulse and glorious imagination.
Dearest heart,
Thank you for letting me believe in possibilities and potential.
And for giving me the courage to pursue a better way.
Thank you for loving.
For the times that you have seen me fumble and fall and feel small,
Helpless and hopeless.
And in spite of my failings,
Still giving me that seed of hope that tomorrow may be a better day.
Thank you for helping me to realize that I need to do this for myself.
To learn how to be on my side and learn how to make sure that I am nourished and taken care of.
Thank you for leading me here.
Thank you for getting me to this present day.
Thank you for listening to those desires that sometimes I'm too scared to say out loud.
Thank you for hearing me and gently urging me to trust you and to step out in faith.
Thank you for giving me courage and daring.
Thank you for believing that within me,
Somewhere,
Is a seed of greatness.
Dearest heart,
Help me.
Help me to hear you,
To listen,
To trust and tread lightly with you.
Help me to nurture and tend to you in order that you may take a higher place in my life.
Your rightful place.
Front and center.
Leading so much better than fear ever could.
Help me to let you lead when I'm lost and when I feel that I know the way.
I know that at times I have not listened to you.
I know that I have shut you down,
Pushed you out,
Ignored you and avoided you.
I'm so sorry that at times I have done everything in my power to drown out your voice.
I am sorry.
I am here,
Listening now.
Rest dear heart.
Rest and know that I am going to be here for you now.
That I will listen.
That I will heed your voice.
I will make sure that I give you what you need.
That I make time for you to be heard.
And that I make time in my life to do the things that light you up and make you flutter.
I will make time for your joy.
I will fuel the body that carries you and tend to the mind that makes things happen.
Dearest heart,
I promise that I will protect you from those who seek to do you harm.
I will protect you from those who don't mean to harm,
But will.
I will shield you from those whose words are meant to cut.
From those whose actions would damage or destroy.
From those who don't listen to your needs or care for your desires.
I will listen to your needs and care for your desires.
I will be on your side.
Dearest heart,
I will be your ally and your friend.
I will be your champion.
I will love you as you have loved me.
With discipline and enduring commitment.
With an unconditional loyalty and allegiance.
With tenderness and care.
I will love you today and every day.
I will love you always.
Thank you.
Thank you.
