For those of you who don't know who Jonah Mowry is, he's a teenager who has recently posted a video on YouTube about being bullied. He didn't say a single word in the video. He told his story through a series of notes. It is a very moving video. It touched so many people and inspired them to respond to Jonah. I want to share one of those response videos with you. It was made by a friend of mine who can relate to Jonah all too well. I'm so proud of you Jay for coming forward and allowing us to see the vulnerable side of you. You are truly an inspiration to us all. ♥
Today I feel like I have a huge hole in my heart. Somebody I love with my absolute whole heart is in pain and I feel powerless to help her. How can someone who is amazingly gifted, beautiful, smart, inspiring, loving...How can they not see themselves the way everyone else does? Here I go, being all hypocritical, when in fact, it wasn't that long ago that I struggled with my own self-esteem. I think everybody struggles with that from time to time. When it was me, I remember just how awful I felt about myself. I also remember all of the things I did to try and boost my self-esteem. I guess that's why I am so sad right now. I don't want her to do what I did. I don't want her to inadvertently hurt herself on her quest for perfection. Everything within me wants to wrap her in my arms and tell her how much I
love her and just how important she is to me...and to so many other
people. I want to tell her, fail or succeed it doesn't matter. She can make a million mistakes...it doesn't matter. She is perfectly imperfect...just like everyone else. People beat themselves up on a daily basis trying to be perfect...trying to look perfect...trying to act perfect. But how boring would this world be if everyone was the same? We would have no music...no lyrics...no artists...no actors...no athletes...no books...(*gasp*)
Think about your favorite musician. Now think about what would have become of them if they allowed their uniqueness to be stifled in the hopes of being and looking and acting like everyone else. Embrace your uniqueness. Embrace your beautiful self. Because you ARE beautiful! All of those things that make you different are the things that people treasure most about you.
"For You created my inmost being:
You knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made."
