Close your eyes.
Let's all collectively take three deep breaths together.
Deep breath in and let it out.
Another deep breath in and out.
Last one in and out.
Let's go on a journey together.
I want you to picture yourself as a young girl or a young boy.
Really see yourself.
Where are you?
Are you playing in the backyard?
Is it a school yearbook picture?
Are you on your bike?
At Thanksgiving in your little sweater?
See your smile.
See your loving spirit.
See how sweet and innocent you are.
So full of life,
Imagination,
Wonder and curiosity.
So full of love,
Wanting to share it with everyone you meet.
Now see yourself in high school.
Maybe a little bit awkward.
Blooming and growing.
See your sweet face.
See yourself trying to figure out who you are,
Where you belong,
What you believe.
What have you gone through?
What have you endured?
Have you felt love?
Have you felt loss?
Have you felt bad about yourself?
Were people cruel to you?
Were you cruel to others?
Really see you.
Now look past the smile.
Past your eyes.
See your beautiful spirit trying so hard to fit in,
To belong,
To be loved,
To be accepted.
Now see yourself today.
See you getting up every morning,
Even when it takes every ounce of you to get out of bed.
See yourself moving through the day,
Taking on the stresses of life,
Work,
Bills,
Kids,
Tragedy on the news,
Fighting with your partner or your family.
See yourself still,
Getting up every single morning and doing the best you can.
See all that you are,
All you have been through,
All you have become.
Be gentle with yourself,
My love,
And breathe.
Feel your feet grounded in Mother Nature like a big,
Beautiful oak tree with your roots deep within the earth.
Your past may have been imperfect,
But you are rooted and standing on its foundation.
Feel yourself with gratitude for the breath passing through your lungs and the beating heart within your chest.
Your journey may not have been easy.
It may have been a rough road winding through moments of pain and heartache and moments of joy and laughter.
Take a moment to admire the woven threads of your past,
Making up the magnificent tapestry of your life's journey.
Gaze at the broken pieces of glass that is now your brilliant stained glass window,
Reflecting the image of who you are today.
Now I want you to wrap your arms around yourself.
I want you to embrace you as warmly as you would a child you love.
I want you to lovingly and compassionately hug this beautiful human being right now.
You have done your best to make it in this crazy world.
Many people give up.
You haven't.
Embrace you and repeat these words.
I'm sorry for being hard on you.
I'm sorry for neglecting you.
I'm sorry when I've put your needs last.
I'm sorry for not being gentle with you when you needed it most.
I see you.
I see all of your efforts.
I feel your strength.
I know your courage.
I honor you.
Breathe.
Give yourself the respect and the honor for where you've been and who you've become as you continue on life's extraordinary journey.