To my daughter

 To my daughter,

I’m proud of every part of you. The soft parts. The bold parts. The parts that spark and speak up even when it feels hard.

I see your fire and your softness too. I see the way you light up a room and the way you stand your ground when something doesn’t feel right. I see the way you care deeply, even when you pretend not to.

You don’t have to shrink yourself to fit into anyone’s expectations. You don’t have to quiet your power to be loved.

Be proud of the fire in you. Be proud of the way you take up space, of the way you love fiercely, of the way you are still learning and growing.

The world might not always understand you, but I do.

You are more than enough, exactly as you are. And I’ll spend my whole life making sure you never forget it.