Hey friend,

Why do you think it's so hard to say "I'm sorry"? Do you struggle with that? Sometimes you know you need to say "I'm sorry" but it just gets stuck in the back of your throat. I want to encourage us today. If there's a situation where you need to say "I'm sorry" because you've hurt someone -- first of all, I want you to know we all hurt people. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, we can cause others pain. That's not something to feel shame about but it is something to feel sadness about. And if we really love the people around us we are going to care that we hurt them. That's why we need to be ready to say "I'm sorry". But not only say "I'm sorry", but "I'm sorry" comes with an expectation that we are going to change, that we are going to do our best to not repeat the thing that hurt the person we love, or are are in community with, in the first place. So, today is there anyone you need to say the words "I'm sorry" to? This doesn't mean that you're a bad person or you meant to be hurtful. Maybe it means that your insecurity got in the way or maybe it shows a deeper issue that you need work through or some place you were protecting yourself because you're scared of getting hurt. You know? You can be honest with the people in your life, or at least be honest with yourself about those things. From a place of compassion for yourself you can choose love for those around you. You can apologize with the expectation of trying to not repeat that in the future. Because your relationships matter. Because you matter. Because community matters. Because our stories matter.

I'll see you here tomorrow.

Hey friend,

Recently I found myself in a place where I needed to forgive someone and I was finding it difficult. We all have circumstances in our lives where people hurt us intentionally or unintentionally and we need to work through forgiveness for those people. You know there's a saying that if we don't offer forgiveness it hurts us more than the person we need to forgive. I do think that's true, but it doesn't make forgiving any easier. What I did the other day was I walked through a situation in my mind where I talked to this person and I imagined them sitting across from me and how they might respond. For me, this time, it was enough. I was able to let the offense go, I was able to have some closure in that relationship and I was able to move on. Now it's not always that easy or simple. If you have people in your life that have really hurt you and you need to move through forgiveness, for them and for yourself really -- I want to encourage you to talk to someone, a safe trusted adult. You can reach out to us here at the Love, Sophia Project. You could talk to a counselor or therapist or even a good friend. Because it's important that you work through your feelings of hurt and that you learn to forgive and let go. You don't want bitterness growing in your heart. You don't want to become negative or cynical. Remember your story matters too much for that! You have too much influence. So, today take some time to journal. Take some time to think about forgiving and releasing. Because you matter.

I'll meet you here tomorrow.

Hey friend,

Will you do something for me today? Will you write down a few things that make you unique? Think of a few things that make you different than others and write them down. Then, will you celebrate it? Will you write down why those things that make you unique? Or that one thing that you choose that makes you unique. Will you write down why they are good? How they add to your friend groups, or your sports teams, or your extracurricular activities, or the places where you find yourself online or in your family. Will you write down how what you add is good, how it's worth being celebrated? Because you are unique and you are worth being celebrated. Celebrate YOU today! Throw a little party. It's ok. It's good. See your value. See your worth. Your story matters.

I'll meet you here tomorrow.