Dear Danielle

My dearest, darling, daring, Danielle,

Just breathe. I know what horrible, haunting thoughts are cascading around your precious, impressionable mind. Take a deep breath then exhale. I'm here to tell  you everything is going to be alright.

When you look in the mirror what do you see? You are so distorted and dizzily dismorphic my dear. Would you like to know what I see? Of course you wouldn't but it's my duty to tell you differently. I see a bright, blue-eyed, blonde, beautiful, eight year old girl, full of life, vigor, and beaming with a brilliance few have ever beheld. 

Don't argue with me; that's one battle I'm sure you will not emerge victorious from. You are as precious as a pearl, special as a star, and draw others near to you like a mesmerizing melody. Don't pull away if they get too close. You are intelligent, witty, charming, and crazy cute. Competitive to a fault, you constantly stand and defend your ground. Don't ever let go of that completely - you never know when that might come in handy. 

As  you absently stare at yourself in the mirror I can hear your mind screaming, practically screeching, "you are different." You know what - you are different - just not in the way that you believe. You are unique. You stand-out. You are one-of-a-kind. Not to inflate your ego (which let's be honest, isn't even possible at this point in your life) but others are jealous. You don't even notice as you are so fixated on the  menacing monster you have created of yourself in your incredibly imaginative mentality. 

Hear what I say: you are not ugly, you are not fat, you are not bigger than everyone else, no one is staring. You are perfect - the very thing you strive desperately to be - you are perfect. The only one arguing this point is you. Get out of your own mind for a minute and try to grasp this actuality. Let your guard down, stop obsessing. Let that confidence you carry overflow into every aspect of your life including how you look.  You are unstoppable. Never back down. Never give up.

Just breathe. 

Love,
You