"Thank you for teaching me that I don't need to be perfect to be loved."

A 15-word love letter.

April 1, 2023

I almost cancelled on you today.

I'm glad I didn't.

My go-to defence/self-care mechanism is to self-isolate.

I don't want to be seen when I’m not on top form.
I don't want to be seen when I don't feel beautiful.

I want to hide away.

Photo by Brennan Martinez on Unsplash

... But that's a lie, too.

I don't really want to hide away.

I just don't want to feel like I need to be something other than what & who I am to be okay--in your eyes or mine.

I don't want to have to perform.
I don't want to feel like a disappointment.

Your grace is beautiful, and you give me so much of it.

You make it easy for me to say yes.

You make it easy for me to stretch the boundaries of what I think I want to be available for.

You show me, over & over again, how much you care.

Your love for me tests me in all the right ways.

I'm curious about you.
You are unexpected to me.
I don't have to make any decisions right now.

And so... I relax & breathe.

Thank you for being you.
Thank you for being here.
Thank you for loving me.
Thank you for being a better communicator than I am.
Thank you for not expecting or requiring anything of me.

It's deeply healing for me to *actually* be able to be, in the presence of someone else.

I trust you.

I don't say that lightly.

Unfurl with me.