I spoke with a very special and dear friend yesterday.
She oozes kindness from every pore in her body.
Whenever I see or talk to her I walk away with an overwhelming desire to step right up, to become a stronger version of myself.
Her spirit has a way of lifting you up and her generosity is like no other.
Whenever I talk with her I am amazed by the work she is doing for others, family ,friends, strangers, charities.
The most difficult part of all, is that this kind, wonderful, amazing woman never feels she has done enough. She is always disappointed with her own performance. Always feeling as if there is more she could have done and should be doing.
I wonder how often we do this, how often we fail to see our own greatness, how often we are only focussing on our perceived shortcomings.
A little over a year ago I gathered a group of some of the most inspiring and influential people I have in my life.
I cooked them a dinner, I lovingly crafted desserts and I invited them to all share in an evening of celebration.
I called it my Fabulous Friendship Festival.
The highlight of the evening, and the scariest part for me, was the reading of their letters. Individual letters detailing their greatness, as seen and experienced by me.
I chose to read these letters aloud, to them and to the group. You see, I love the written word and feel there is something extremely powerful to hear the writer then read those words aloud.
I wanted my friends to hear, to absorb and to own these messages. To stand in their own light.
My desire that evening was to give them the ability to see themselves through my eyes and to then realise just how incredible they are.
As I listened to my dear friend yesterday I wondered if it is time to write those letters again, reminders.
I then wondered if in fact it is time to wrote one to myself.
To own our greatness, to identify with all that we do that matters in the world, that is bliss.
What do you think? Do we fail to own our greatness all too often?
This is day 24 of 31 Days of Captured Bliss
Hi Kazzy – I still treasure the letter you wrote me that night, it was the most beautiful gift I have ever received. I left that night thinking, really ? Someone as amazing as you thinks I am all these things! x x x
I’m looking forward to unpacking my boxes and re-reading your letter. You revealed so many things about us that night and about yourself too. You are blissfully incredible!xxx
What a beautiful thing to do for your friends! Most of us most definitely cannot see our own greatness.
I LOVE your idea of the F.F.F!!! Years ago, when I was in college, my dad sent me a letter stating that he had been saying/bragging about me and thought it was about time for him to tell me what he had been saying. People need to know they’re loved and appreciated. What a FABULOUS tribute and what a lovely friend you are to those people in your life. Great idea, great post!!
Lee thank you, the night was magical. What a beautiful gift form your Dad, we need more of this in our world.
What a lovely idea! I bet they are treasuring those letters and that each one gets re-read many times! And, yes, I’d say that you should write one to yourself!
Bonnie I know those letters mean the world to each of them, and yes one to myself is way overdue
A co-worker wrote me a short letter one day letting me know how much she admired my determination to return to school. She also stated that she knew how difficult things were for me with juggling a full time job and a full time course load. She asked me to keep at it and that she and everyone else were cheering me on. I still have that letter and to this day whenever I need reassurance I look back at that letter. That was two years ago. I am now in my final year at University. 🙂
Visiting from the #SITSSharefest 🙂
Have an awesome weekend!
Tami
Tami Marie
Oh Tami what an incredible gesture. To think 2 years on you are still drawing support from those words. Good luck with the final year.
Wow, those letters are a great idea. I have so many people in my life that don’t seem to see themselves the way I do. But then again, I guess I might not be able to see myself clearly either…
Thanks for the reminder!
Tahnya so so true, if only we could all, even for a small moment, see ourselves the way others do.