A Love Letter to Yourself

Hey, you.

I know it feels heavy right now. It seems that the weight of the world is constantly on your shoulders, and no matter how matter how hard you try to get ahead, you always seem to be trailing about 5 or 6 steps behind. You are struggling. This life… it’s hard. There is always something that needs to get done. Always someone who needs you. Even if you work 10 hours in a day, there is still more to do tomorrow. The house needs to be cleaned. Groceries need to be ordered. The laundry needs to be put away. Hell, some of it even needs to be washed. And do you even remember when the last time was that you cleaned the oven? Emails need to be answered. Phone calls need to be returned. Bills need to be paid. Kids need to get to practice, or maybe it’s a game. Maybe it’s even both in the same day with two different kids in two different places. And even if somehow you got all of this accomplished in a day, would there be someone to even say “thank you”?

It feels tiresome and lonely sometimes; then you feel guilty for feeling tired and lonely. This is the life you worked so hard to get to, right? This is what you wanted. This is what you were on the grind for, for years. You should be grateful. You shouldn’t be sad, or anxious, or even depressed. You shouldn’t be tired. Not lonely. Not overwhelmed, and certainly not overstimulated because the minute you say those words out loud, you are reminded “Oh, but one day you will miss it… One day, they won’t need you… One day… One day… One day.” But you are not living that “one day” yet. You are simply living today. And today is hard. It’s so hard.

I want you to read this letter and remember it for the hard days. The days you cried in the shower. The days you took care of everyone else, or not yourself. The days that you poured your cup so much into others that you ran dry. The days where you running behind. The days where you feel insignificant and small. The days where the weight is so heavy, you can’t push it off.

I want you to remember these words: I see you. I acknowledge all of your pain. I wish I could take it from you. I see your grief. I see your burden. I see your sadness. I see your doubt. I see your self-doubt. But I also see your strength. I see your triumphs. I see that you got out of bed this morning. I see that you got dressed. I see that you drank your water. I see that you had the pure strength to just get up one day and try. And on the days that you couldn’t try, I see that you had the courage to rest. I hope you know I admire your strength to come back and try again.

All those things you wish just one person would tell you, I hope you hear them right now:

“Thank you.” “You did it!” “Old you would be so proud.” “I am so proud.” “I am sorry.” “You deserved better.” “I love you.”

Whatever it is that you need right now, I hope you feel it. I hope you are reminded of your incredible beauty and your capabilities. I hope that if you feel that you are drowning, you soon feel the comfort of a raft. I hope if you are cold, you are soon given a blanket. I hope if the light inside you is dark, someone comes to you and shares their flame. I hope you are proud of everything you overcame, but most importantly of who you became. And if you aren’t, I hope you find the strength to start over. I hope you stop being so hard on yourself. I hope you grow to be your own biggest fan. So breathe, be patient, and trust the course of your life. You are in the exact place you are meant to be.

Let go of all the expectations you have created in your head. Accept reality as it comes to you. Accept life for what it is. Try not to be so hard on yourself, we both know you’re doing the best you can. Read this letter again, and again, and again, until your cup is overflowing and your heart is full.

You are good enough. You are smart enough. You are beautiful enough. You are just simply enough. You always were and you always will be.

Love, Me.

Kelcee Sitzes, M.S. is a graduate student studying Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an emphasis in Substance Abuse Disorders. She is employed with Counseling Associates as a Forensics QBHP/Mental Health Liaison and Care Coordinator. She is a wife, girl mom and a plant enthusiast.

If you need help or might need help, please reach out at:

Crisis Line: 988

Text to Chat Crisis Line: 988

Arkansas Crisis Center: https://www.arcrisis.org/

Trevor Project: 1-888-488-7386

Trevor Project Text to Chat Crisis Line: 678678

Trevor Project Chat Page: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/

AFSP Arkansas Chapter: https://afsp.org/chapter/arkansas

Arkansas Suicide Prevention Resource Center: https://www.sprc.org/states/arkansas