Feel how you feel

Dear 13yo:

The world will throw a lot of stuff at you, and ask you to smile anyway.

Feel how you feel.

You’ll be asked to tone down your responses and smooth over and buff out your frustration.

Feel how you feel.

You’ll be asked to lower your voice, censor your heart, be “a lady.” To ignore your very real pain.

Feel how you damn feel.

Take your time. Be with your hurt, your embarrassment, your joy, your heartache.

Own it.

Don’t apologize for it.

Don’t try to win others over to your side. It’s yours.

But still, don’t fall into the trick of using your feelings as an excuse to lash out and hurt others.

Don’t let your feelings to cripple you, endanger you, or harden your heart.

Don’t give your feelings complete control over you. Remember your values, your strength, your relationships.

You’re feelings aren’t forever. They will ebb and flow in intensity and duration.

They will shift in ways that may surprise you.

They are an important part of you, but they’re not all of you.

Befriended, and not denied or ignored or stuffed away, they can guide you in truly powerful ways.

Be true to yourself.

Give them time, give them room, give them voice.

Our feelings are really so simple, but can affect us in complicated ways.

Ask for help if you need help finding your way back your values, your thoughts, your breath.

Feel how you feel.

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