Mother's Day and Self-Love: Things I'd Like to Tell My Daughter

As a mother, I hope to lead my kid to a happy and good life.

May 13 was Mother's Day. I got a note from the love of my life days before that. As usual, her message made me cry. She knows I'm under so much pressure at this time (for the past several years, actually). She also knows that I'm having a hard time figuring out what I want to do with my life - aside from trying to fulfill my role as her mom. She is my saving grace, my human oxygen. I would've gone long ago if she weren't around. 

There are many things I'd like to tell her. Not sure if she'd take time to read this piece, but I hope when she does, she'd learn some lessons and use these reminders to protect and improve herself as a person.

To Leann from Leann - A Letter to Self for 2012 (and so on)

Dearest Leann,

Introspection is good for the soul.

Another year is fast approaching. Please try to calm yourself. Panicking will not lead to good results. Breathe and write down your thoughts.

First, how are you doing? If not good, I bet you know the reasons why. What are you going to do then? Are you still going to mope about the unchanging past? Are you still going to think about the schmuck who hurt you years ago - however occasionally? Like what you're doing now. You can either erase that particular line or not, but you won't because you'd be lying to yourself - and you're tired of doing this, right? It's not okay, but recurring thoughts are like prisoners waiting for their release, so do it - RELEASE. And just MOVE ON. If others can do it, YOU CAN TOO - after all he's a pathological liar who deceived you right from the start. You certainly don't want to ruin the rest of your life with and for a man like him, do you? You're just too proud to admit that someone fooled you after all that you've done.

What about your daughter's dad? You've learned your lessons with this one. I know you've forgiven him, but haven't forgotten what he's done - same thing with that schmuck. FORGIVE YOURSELF, Leann. You're as flawed as everyone else. You're also not immune from loving someone and getting stabbed in the end - it happens.