Hello Readers,

How are you doing?

In the past couple of months, a lot has changed.

Moving back home to the Philippines, saying goodbye to the people I love so dearly in Canada, going through friendship breakups, and building a business from scratch. I mean, it’s a LOT.

Some stages have been grindingly hard and emotional. On the outside, everything looks perfect. But, on the inside, I have been struggling with loneliness, low self-confidence and self-doubt. The past few weeks have been a lot of crying alone in my car, feeling utterly alone and isolated in my struggles.

And then, a few days ago, going through my notes, I found this note I had written last April to make myself feel better. With tears flowing from my eyes, I read the words that brought me so much comfort while giving me the strength to walk into the unknown. Sharing this with you in case you need it too…

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

You are already the ray of love and warmth you wish dearly to be.

You have always been the woman you wanted to be- artistic, beautiful, creative, insanely kind, caring, soft-hearted, comforting, and warm.

You have been hurt so many times and it’s so see beyond that pain.

I lose myself in the pain, grief, numbness, anger, resentment, and distrust caused by one disappointment after the other.

I understand it’s just the universe giving me no choice but to rely on my self-love instead of love from others, but it does hurt how under-appreciated I am.

You are disappointed things didn’t work out as you wanted them to. It’s okay to feel sad and disappointed.

Soon, you’ll be thankful that you didn’t get what you thought you wanted because there was something better in store for you.

Women deserve better.

You deserve better than waiting for a man to show up for you and do the bare minimum. It’s better to be alone than with a man next to you who’s not on the same wavelength as you.

Your heart is soft and tender and deserves to be treated with kindness and gentleness.

If your life has to have any meaning, then you have to live it. You are the writer of your story; make it a great one. It’s time for you to become the star you already know you are.

Keep investing time in yourself and learn to be strong alone. You’ve been alone for most of your life. You have picked yourself up on the days when you felt like not waking up. That was all you.

So now that you know what you are capable of, you cannot let your self-worth depend on anyone.

Since you are so sensitive and have such a soft and gentle heart, you are its most fierce protector. Because if you don’t protect yourself, then who will?

Just don’t lose confidence in yourself. Because if you lose it, no one else will have confidence in you. You are the only person who can make yourself feel better and treat yourself the best.

You spent your 20s carving a place for yourself with your blood, sweat, and tears. You show the rest of us through your strength and pioneering spirit that we, too, have a chance. You lead the way for us all to walk the paths that have never been taken and instead teach us all how to live free. YOU ARE NOT ANYTHING WRONG. You should be proud of everything you have done ALONE, unlike them.

If no one has said to you before, here it is: I am proud of the woman you are becoming. I hope you are too.

xo

Yachna