In Honor of My Favorite woman

Dear Mom,

Today we celebrate women everywhere.

Women are the focus today: mothers, daughters, aunts, friends, and anyone that identifies as a woman. It’s a day in which many women fight for their rights, story, losses, and wins. As you know, I have the utmost respect for those women. Because this day was exceptional for me two years ago, it marked the beginning of a healing process in which you held my hand every step of the way.

A process that I recently shared on this same blog, and in which you were incredibly supportive. 

It is impossible to put into words how grateful I am to you, and at the same time, it is unimaginable what you must’ve felt when you read that your daughter was sexually abused. However, you held your head high, and you were there for me. You contained me, had my back, and pulled me up. And not only that, you were proud, grateful, and shared my article. You were not afraid; you showed love and fierceness that I wish to accomplish one day.

For all of these reasons and many more, today I am writing this letter to you.

Today I celebrate international women’s day but most importantly, I honor you.

Mama, I could write a book about what I’ve learned from you, about the conversations we’ve had, our ups and downs, our incredible moments, our uncanny resemblance when it comes to seeing the world, and on how connected we are- without even knowing it at times. And I’m sure one day I will. 

On this particular day, I want to say THANK YOU. I wish I could say it a million times and scream it as loud as possible.

Thank you, because we’ve been through a lot. I know that I had a complicated youth. I struggled with health issues, bullying, an eating disorder, and many more. And through every single moment, you were there, giving your 110%. Always. Without a doubt, you jumped to my rescue. 

Thank you, because even though no one taught you how to be a mother, you have been the perfect mother to me. More than that, you’ve been an incredible mother to my sisters, friends, cousins, and practically anyone who needed to be sustained by your love and infinite wisdom.

Thank you, mama, because you taught me how to be a woman. 

You were honest about the challenges of life as a woman, about dating but also about having fun. You were always open about the incredible sensations that a young woman experiences when she comes close to a young man, but you also taught me how to protect myself. You have encouraged me to be true to myself, womanhood, and sexiness. You never hid your past, your experiences, or your advice. You’ve done all this while respecting who I want to become and the crazy things I want to become.

You supported me when I uploaded a picture half-naked. You made me feel sexy and loved; you made me feel wonderful and contained.

Thank you because you have created a beautiful space to become me. You have built a safe haven for me and those I love. You have respected who I am and what I am. You have held my hand when lost and have brightened my way when all goes dark.

You are an incredible woman. 

A woman who has worked to bloom into the person she is today, a woman who has redefined herself throughout the years, has been through indescribable difficult times while still keeping her head high and her family together. A woman that fights for what she believes in and has infinite wisdom that I wish I could one day acquire. You are a woman whose generosity goes beyond what someone can imagine, a woman that puts others before her when it comes to helping. A woman I still have so much to learn from. 

Mama, you are love, you are gratitude, you are a warrior, you are everything I aim to be and more. 

I only wish that everyone reading these words could meet you and see for themselves what an incredible woman and human being you are, as I’m sure these words don’t do you justice. 

Today I want to thank you, not only for giving me life but for teaching me how to live it, as a woman, for the last 25 years of my life.

Today I celebrate you, your womanhood, and the incredible person you are and will continue to be. 

Thank you for being you, the generous, beautiful, and exceptional you. I wish everyone to have a woman like you in their lives. Be it a mother, a friend, a daughter, a boss, a cousin, or an acquaintance.

With all the love you have taught me my heart can have,

L