The power of words...
As the middle child, I spent much of my childhood yearning for attention, always feeling a little unseen and misunderstood. Friendships never seemed to come easily, and although I knew deep down that I was worthy, it often felt like people couldn’t quite see the real me. I grew up feeling like the lonely child, searching for love and validation. Now, I am blessed with a wonderful husband who truly loves me, but those early insecurities lingered for years.
In fact, it took until I turned 50 to start liking myself—when my perception of who I am finally began to shift. Let me tell you what sparked that change.
For my milestone birthday, my husband David threw a surprise party and delivered a heartfelt speech. Then my daughter Sophie took the microphone, and I felt a wave of panic. “What on earth is she going to say?” I braced myself for jokes or teasing. But she started describing me with raw honesty and compassion, listing both my quirks and qualities: “My mother is brutally honest, opinionated, unfiltered, impossible. But what you see is what you get. You’ll always know where you stand with her.” She went on, adding warmth and love to each description—warm-hearted, playful, sincere. Sophie acknowledged the vulnerability that not everyone sees in me.
“You’ll never find someone more authentic or sincere than my mother,” she said. “Her delivery may be shocking, but her heart is always in the right place. She says it all with love.”
Hearing her words, I felt like I was meeting myself through someone else’s eyes for the first time. And I actually liked the person she was describing! If this vibrant, caring person was truly me, then maybe I had been enough all along. Sophie’s empathy and humor brought to life a picture of me that was genuine and, despite its imperfections, truly lovable. In that moment, I felt worthy and whole. The power of words!
Since that day, our family has created a new tradition. Along with a “physical” gift, we write each other letters each year—time capsules of the highs and lows, the little moments that shape our lives. These letters, filled with stories and love, will be a legacy for our children and grandchildren. The power of words... you never know when they might transform a life. And to hear from my child the words I had craved for so long—I was truly lucky.
In fact, it took until I turned 50 to start liking myself—when my perception of who I am finally began to shift. Let me tell you what sparked that change.
For my milestone birthday, my husband David threw a surprise party and delivered a heartfelt speech. Then my daughter Sophie took the microphone, and I felt a wave of panic. “What on earth is she going to say?” I braced myself for jokes or teasing. But she started describing me with raw honesty and compassion, listing both my quirks and qualities: “My mother is brutally honest, opinionated, unfiltered, impossible. But what you see is what you get. You’ll always know where you stand with her.” She went on, adding warmth and love to each description—warm-hearted, playful, sincere. Sophie acknowledged the vulnerability that not everyone sees in me.
“You’ll never find someone more authentic or sincere than my mother,” she said. “Her delivery may be shocking, but her heart is always in the right place. She says it all with love.”
Hearing her words, I felt like I was meeting myself through someone else’s eyes for the first time. And I actually liked the person she was describing! If this vibrant, caring person was truly me, then maybe I had been enough all along. Sophie’s empathy and humor brought to life a picture of me that was genuine and, despite its imperfections, truly lovable. In that moment, I felt worthy and whole. The power of words!
Since that day, our family has created a new tradition. Along with a “physical” gift, we write each other letters each year—time capsules of the highs and lows, the little moments that shape our lives. These letters, filled with stories and love, will be a legacy for our children and grandchildren. The power of words... you never know when they might transform a life. And to hear from my child the words I had craved for so long—I was truly lucky.
