For The Tired Ones

Read this every night. Read this after every long day that has gotten the best of you. That brought out the worst in you. Read this on every eve of another impending bad day.

You have no idea how proud I am of you — and regardless of how rare you hear that from the people around you, know that you did so well today —  mistakes, embarrassments, regrets, and all.

Congratulations because you’ve learned, and you are less small failures away from the big success… even if you fell unsure exactly where you’re going. I’m proud that you’re pushing through the ugly and filthy moments instead of resorting to getting what you want the easy way. You’re not taking shortcuts. You are actively shaping yourself into a better person by exposing yourself to people and circumstances outside your comfort zone.

“Do not lose heart; though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”

– 2 Corinthians 4:16

Now, take this moment to decide in your heart that tomorrow, you will show up again, because one, doing so makes the world a better place, having people who know the value of hard work, love, faith, perseverance, and of not shying away from earning their wins through the uncomfortable, and two, it makes you a stronger and more beautiful soul than you have ever been.

I don’t say this enough — nobody says it enough — but I’m so proud of you.

You’ve been through the lowest of lows and decided that you do not want to ever feel that feeling again — of being defeated, of being a disappointment to yourself, of being a good-for-nothing slug — and you will not. Never again. You will rise up and only feel power and honor, not for being perfect, but for being brave and true.

Never forget: your heart counts, if anything counts at all.