My Mini-Me on her big day!

20 years ago, I was the very first person to tell you happy birthday. So, I'm telling you happy birthday a day early today....cause I always want to be first in your life 

A poem written for my daughter on her 20th birthday….

I see you

The world’s idea of beauty is skewed. It says you must fit into a box that is perfect….perfect hair, perfect size, perfect person, perfectly lonely. Although you have beauty in spades….I see you.

Your beauty is not in the color of your eyes, the size of your body, your ability to regurgitate the answers the world is expecting. Your beauty is what lies within those eyes. What resides within that body. What your answers really mean. These are the things that distinguish you from most of the world….I see you.

You see, when I look into those eyes, I see hope, excitement for the things yet not experienced, compassion for others, peace that can’t be broken, love that has no rules….I see you.

When I look at your beautiful body, I see a young woman that is comfortable with her person. I see someone who shows her real face, confident in her imperfections because she is aware of her worth, someone with a heart so big, it causes the world to smile….I see you.

When I see the way you embrace life, I see a young woman full of passion. Passion for your reading and old movies, passion for your future, passion to be the best you can be. I see the love you have for your family and friends and know that in your eyes, you have everything you will ever need….I see you.

When I am in your presence or even when I see you from afar, I am overcome with pride at your confidence. A confidence that is derived from knowing how to speak, a confidence in knowing that you don’t need to be the center of attention, a confidence that comes from knowing you don’t need the approval of others. You radiate with security and poise….I see you.

When I look at you, I see something special, something uniquely you that can’t be duplicated. It’s something rarely seen, it’s the epitome of beautiful. It’s that something special that will forever elude the world but will be constantly sought by the souls that don’t have it….I see you.