Dear Me, 

I hope you’ve learned how to be content 

I hope you’ve learned that making the biggest sandcastle 

doesn’t require the largest shovel 

but rather the patience to return again and again to the sea

I hope you’ve learned that stars appear brightest 

when you want them the most

and the moon is not worth more than the stars 

even if it is the one who illuminates the sky

I hope you’ve learned that missing someone only ever ends

until you see them again

and you will always have to be the one to put in the effort

and make the time

I hope you’ve learned to look in the mirror 

without covering your eyes

I hope you realize that perfection is a figment 

of the imagination 

and sometimes broken is okay

I hope you’ve learned to catch tears and write letters 

with their ink

and I hope you know to laugh loudly and save the sound for lonely days

But above all, I hope you’ve learned that love is not a shadow

and will try to lift you up 

if only you just reach out your hand