Do you realise how amazing you are?

More than just a number on a scale,

more than just a face in a crowd,

you are a person of great worth.

You have woven a tapestry of life experiences

and you have embraced

love, loss, grief and suffering.

You have loved and you have been loved.

You have brought joy, nurture and compassion

into the lives of many.

You have given so much of yourself.

Yes, you have made mistakes.

And yes, you have punished yourself

enough for them already.

Let go of the pain of remembering those times.

What really matters is how fiercely

you stand by what you believe in,

and oftentimes you have stood alone.

This is because you are strong,

you are resilient and you keep going.

You always do.

So I will ask you again:

Do you realise how amazing you are?

You may not see it,

but it is reflected in your eyes when you smile.

Every day you demonstrate

the beauty of your soul

in the little things you do.

And I want you to know

that you are seen

by those who know and love you.

 

© Julie Ann Bryant 2017

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This poem, as it appears on my webpage, has also been saved to the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.

 

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This poem first appeared in my book, Not What You See, pages 138-139. Here is my back-story to this poem …

Taking the perspective of those who love us, this poem was written as a reminder that no matter how small we feel in the larger scheme of things, we are big to those who know and love us. It came from a time of deep hurt and confusion, of feeling small and unimportant to those in my extended circle – a reminder to surround myself with people who see me, and love and accept me for who I am, quirks and all.

So just in case you need to hear this: You are seen. You matter.