“There is freedom waiting for you,

On the breezes of the sky,

And you ask “What if I fall?”

Oh but my darling,

What if you fly?”

― Erin Hanson

Dear Lola,

Today you are 15! What?! FIFTEEN! How did that happen? How is it possible that it’s been 6 whole years since we met? It feels like a lifetime. You are at once the same little girl, yet vastly, deeply different. More grown up, yes, but wiser too. You wear your wisdom like a comfy old sweatshirt that you are finally growing into. I think when we met, it wasn’t a first, but rather a joyous reunion. It felt as though our hearts were old friends.

I will never stop telling you how brave and strong you are. How fierce and beautiful. Your beauty burns from the inside out and is an outward reflection of how loving and beautiful your heart is.

I will never stop telling you how very proud I am of you. Proud of your strength. Proud of your persistence. Proud of your ability to live life boldly despite the scars that you wear like a badge of honor. I will never stop telling you to dream large and hope big. I will never stop telling you that you can be anything you dream of and you can do anything you put your mind to. There is a big beautiful world out there that is waiting to welcome you. Go into it boldly, but with thoughtful intellect. Be brave, but gentle. Be fierce, but loyal. Be fully, completely, and unapologetically Lola.

As you read this annual birthday letter, I hope you will go back and read the letters from past years. I want you to read all these words and let them soak into every fiber of your being and know that they are true. As I’ve said in the past, if I repeat myself, it’s with intent. So that these words will ring in your head and be imprinted there forever. So that you might believe them with all your heart and know them to be the truth.

With each passing year, you will continue to grow into the woman you were born to be. Nurture her. Love her fiercely. Trust her. Be her. She is strong. She is fierce. She is you.

A few Do’s and Don’ts….

Do love yourself. Fiercely and with unconditional grace.
Don’t accept anything less than you deserve. Not from yourself and not from others.

Do dream big. Bigger than you ever thought possible.

Don’t be afraid to fail. Make mistakes. Important ones.
Do learn from them. Let them teach you how to be a problem solver.
Don’t let your mistakes define you. Let them be the things that push you to grow and be better.

Do let others in. Love them. Show them your hard exterior and more importantly, your soft gooey insides. But make sure they deserve to know you.

Do allow yourself quiet moments of self reflection. Where you can be sad or happy or angry or afraid or silly or joyful.

Don’t be worried about what others think. Always be you, without apology.
Do be fierce and independent and strong.

Don’t be afraid to laugh. To let that little girl giggle bubble up into sheer joyous laughter that can’t be contained.
Do make a difference. You were brought into this world with love.  Use it to do great things.
Don’t be afraid to cry, to trust, to let others help carry the burden when it feels like too much for your soul to bear.

Do hope, and pray, and long for a better world.
Don’t ever stop wondering, or questioning, or learning. Let your dreams be bigger than you are and allow yourself the time and space to grow into them.

I am so grateful for you. Grateful for our friendship. Grateful for your heart that has nestled into mine.

I am profoundly proud of you. Proud of your tender heart and your shining spirit. I am proud of your creative mind and your never ending strength. I am proud to be your friend.

Best thing: Park walks and secrets shared. Pinky promises made for a bright and awesome future.
Worst thing: Being so far away. Not forever. Just for now.

You are strong. You are a warrior. You are fierce.
You are friendship. You are empathy. You are tender. You are love.
You already hold within you everything you need to succeed and survive.

And not only will you survive…
In this life, you will THRIVE.

Happy Birthday, sweet girl.

Spread your wings, and don’t ever stop wishing.
Oh, but my darling, you WILL fly.

I love you.

~Michaela

This little lady crawled into my heart 6 years ago as a sweet 9 year old…today she is 15 and my heart explodes with love for her.

OperationLoveLola #whateverlolawants