If you're reading this, you are important.
You are important. You are worthy. You are valued. You matter.
This might sound like I am listing words to try to make you feel better, but take your time to read them and think about what each word really means.
In our lives we all have things that are important to us. For many of us this is family, friends, pets, school, hobbies. These are the things that we love in our lives. Throughout the past couple of years I have had difficulty believing that I was important to others. I would never believe myself if I said that when anyone thought of the important things in their lives, they would think of me. I had trouble realizing that other people loved me like I loved them. This feeling is lonely, isolating, numbing, and very hard to shake, but trying to remind myself that other people in my life feel that I am important to them allows me to work towards believing it.
As I have struggled with feeling important to others, I have similarly doubted my own worth. Our lives are so fast paced with constant expectations thrown at us. It is so easy to get caught up in a world of comparison, a constant worry that you are not living up to expectations, and that others are doing better than you.
Slow down, and take a step back. I promise you, you are doing great.
There is no one that can determine your self-worth besides yourself. Take a moment to think about the things about yourself that you admire. Your personality, passion, smile, creativity, kindness, etc. You are filled with endless qualities that make you unique, and most importantly, worthy. These qualities can not be compared with anyone else or defined by any external expectations set for you. You are strong, and you have the power to identify yourself as worthy, always.
Trust me I am the first person to admit this acknowledgement of self-worth is not as simple as it sounds. I often find myself picking out the small details of my life, and how I feel like I am constantly doing everything wrong. I am my own harshest critic, so I try my best to think about the small details throughout my day that I think make me worthy. If you do the same, I guarantee you will find so many.
Your value is infinite. If you read this and don't believe me, that's okay. I still mean it. Everything that you bring into the world everyday is valuable. Every thought and idea you have is valid, and even when it feels like nobody is listening, you are heard. If no one has told you this, then continue to let me tell you that everything that makes you who you are is valuable.
I matter. I say this to myself often when I am feeling alone, diminished, burnt out, unheard. These feelings can be overwhelming, and when there is nothing else to do, I make sure I remember that I matter. You are in this world for so many reasons, you are where you are for so many reasons, and you are in other people's lives for so many reasons.
As I finish writing this letter, I think about how I want everyone around me to feel. I want everyone to feel loved, important, worthy, valued, and like they matter. Maybe I should start to be selfish then. Don't I deserve to feel these things too? Doesn’t everyone? Focus on yourself, and in all of the dark moments, tell yourself you are loved, important, worthy, and valued. Soon you will believe these things as much as the people who love you do.
I love you.
Dayna D., Villanova University ‘23
