The Dear Jerod Letter

Over the past few weeks, I have been so hard on myself and disappointed on so many levels.  There were even times where people have literally said to me:

“You can’t do this because….”

or

“We can’t let you do this because….”

When I tell you that I was annoyed with how people have treated me, it made me sick to my stomach.  I remembered back to a time where I tried to mold myself to fit into someone’s idea of what I should be and realized that I wasn’t happy.  I would have these heart to heart talks with my mom about what I was feeling.  She told me, “Jerod, you are great just the way you are and if they don’t know what you have to offer, then I don’t know if I want them to be a part of your life.”

I started doing something a little unconventional for dealing with situations that bothered me and that was to write myself a letter.  Any time that I needed an affirmation of who I am as a person, any time that I needed “a pick myself up and dust myself reminder” that I am good enough, I would write my affirmations out and refer back to it.

Dear Jerod,

You are MORE than enough.  You are amazing.  You are inspiring.  You don’t need to FIT IN and belong to be great.  You don’t need anyone who is going to put you in a box to fit THEIR needs.  You are more than a legal assistant, you are more than a writer, you are more than a dance instructor, you are not what some people will put you through.  Keep this in mind when you keep living your life and live it on your own terms.  More than ever, be easy on yourself, be kind to yourself and to others, love yourself always and most of all, never ever make yourself small when you are meant to be big.

Sincerely,

ME

P. S. – You are ALLOWED to say “fuck you” to those who don’t take you seriously.  I give you permission.

What would your letter say?