It is not inevitable.

It is not the answer.

It is not a good option.

There are other opportunities.

There are other avenues.

There are other answers.

Someone really does care about you.

Someone really is going to notice if you don’t show up to work, to church, to school or that event.

Someone really does want you to succeed.

Maybe their voices are not as loud as the ones telling you that you are not worth the time, the trouble, the space.

Maybe their words of love and encouragement are not spoken as often as the words of discouragement and hatred hurled at you by people who either cannot see your worth or refuse to see it.

Maybe you do not feel loved or feel appreciated.

Maybe you do not even love yourself.

I may not know you personally.

I may have never met you.

I may have accidentally ignored you or somehow made you feel like I did not care about you.

But it’s not true.

From the depths of my heart, I apologize if I am one of the many who have caused you pain.

You are precious and full of worth.

Even if you don’t think so.

Even if you’re convinced otherwise.

That other person will not be better off without you.

The world will not be better off without you.

Nothing will be better without you.

Stick around for another day.

Take it one day, one hour, one step, one breath at a time. That’s all you have to do. Just one at a time.

Keep writing your story. It is one worth telling, and one worth hearing.

You are worth so much more than you think.

Your story, full of ups and downs, twists and turns, is a masterpiece.

So don’t quit. Don’t give up. Tell your story.

 

Brett Campbell can be reached at brett.campbell@dailyleader.com.