Depression has allowed me to do these things to you. I never meant to hurt you. Family history runs deep within the vile rivers of disparity and self-loathing. I greatly apologize for those times I lacked the emotional and psychological ability to stop forced hate upon you. I want to blame my family history for my own past.

Rightfully so, these thoughts and actions are learned at a young age and I do not believe I would have naturally turned out this way if it weren’t for everything I have witnessed since birth.

Anger, depression, addiction, lust, and selfishness: the list continues. I have always known anger. I have always seen physical anger. These learned actions and reactions have caused me to harm you in ways I would never harm another living being. I cannot even kill a cockroach without crying inside.

My dearest Body, you did not deserve any of those things. I have taught you to stay still while I transcended into deep meditation. I taught you to stretch and run. I nurtured you with medication to heal you even when my brain maliciously told me not to. You are so incredible. I don’t tell you this often enough, but I spend long moments just staring at you up close. I love the rivets in your skin and the olive hue it gives off under its paleness. I am learning to love your eye color and your toes. I am learning how to give you what you need when you need it instead of selfishly taking and keeping from you.

With all of that being said, there is nothing I would want to change about you. Your lips are beautiful. Do not listen when I tell you they’re too thin. Your nose is perfect. Do not listen when I tell you it’s too big. Your vagina is magnificent. Do not listen when I tell you it’s not. Your nails are exactly as they should be. Do not listen when I tell you they’re too brittle.

The only things I wish to change are of my spirit. I am bitter and angry, yet hopeful and happy. I’m sorry that my mind is a bit confused, Body. I’m so grateful for you! For you have not betrayed me once. It is I who has betrayed you.

Yet, you inspire me by continuing to carry me forward!
You give me so much hope!

Thank you, Body.

Submitted by Ashley Godwin

I miss you all the time. I miss you so much that my heart hurts. My heart literally clenches tightly when I think of you, as though it's trying to hold itself together while my thoughts try and tear it apart.

Time is supposed to heal all wounds but, it seems as though time just provided me with a band-aid that gets old and falls off more often than not.

I know you'd hate it, but I still cry for you. I still sit up at night and wish that you were here. I still talk to you and ask you for advice.

I can't help but want you here. Life has moved on but my heart and emotions haven't. I can't move on.

I have your picture everywhere. I think it's because I'm afraid that one day I'll forget your face.

God... I hope that never happens.

I don't remember your voice anymore. I remember things you said, but it's been so long that your voice has faded from memory.

I refuse to let you fade completely.

I won't do that to myself. You are the memory that I cling to when things get bad. You are the hope I hold onto when things get dark.

I need you, and your memory is all I have left. So, I'll keep it alive for you.

I will carry you in my heart wherever I go in life. I will petition God to have you as my guardian angel if that's what it takes to keep you with me.

I know that you are up there watching me. I know you look down and keep guard over me.

I can only hope that I'm making you proud. I can only hope that I'm what you imagined I'd be in life. I can only hope that you're smiling at me and not up there shaking your head.

I won't hope that you miss me as much as I miss you, because missing you is painful. Missing someone is too painful for Heaven to allow inside its gates. It's too painful for me to wish on anyone, especially you.

I love you.

And I miss you more than you'll ever realize.

By Torianne Elizabeth
Artwork by Nigel van Wieck

Today I'm 23 and I am fearless. Every time my father screamed at me or hit me, he was in fact cheering me on and pushing me forward in life.

Many nights I was too afraid to say a word, but today I have found my voice and this voice is raised higher than any man's rage.

This father's day, I had no idea where my father was, but I was not fatherless. You don't need a biological father to have a father. I am blessed with an all in one mom.

With my father never being there, I have an extra strong bond with my mom. The position of father has also been filled by many other amazing people, God and knowing I don't need to find a father to find myself.

If you're reading this and had the same experience, I want you to know that we are blessed.

We were pushed to grow stronger and wiser beyond our age and this inner strength gives us the fearlessness to experience more in life, because we know we can survive and this makes us free.

I won't trade this freedom for any father in the world.

Submitted by Dinie Soeknogpopcorn

But I also want you to know I am always here for you.

I want you to know that things will get hard in life and at times you will feel alone.

You will want to give up and quit because things are just so overwhelming but please don't.

Things will be okay, and I will always be here for you when things get hard.

But I just want you to know you are an amazing woman and I never want you to lose faith in yourself when things get hard.

Because you have such an amazing life ahead of you. You have so much to accomplish and you can't do those things if you give up.

Your future is going to be so bright if you always remember what you can and will overcome any hardship that may get in your way.

It may be tough right now, but it will get better and you will understand eventually why everything has happened and how it has made your life better.

Life is a rollercoaster ride and I understand that you may be worried to talk to me about whats going on...

But I am here to help, that's why we are best friends! I never want you to feel alone or lose faith in the journey you are going on.

So I hope you know, that no matter what happens you can always confide in me.

By Nicole Clements - Writers Page

I have worked tirelessly for so long with and for Hillary Clinton and her campaign. I have spent so much time working to GOTV. And believe it or not, we accomplished exactly that. The PEOPLE voted for Hillary Clinton. They want her. She won the popular vote.

I know that you know about her experience and qualifications, so please take them into consideration. She has experienced a presidency up close for eight years! She knows how to work with other world leaders, and is largely respected by so many.

Our country is not based off of fear and hate. It sprouted with the hope for a better place to live in where EVERYONE is equal. And under Donald Trump as president, that will not be possible. Hate will lead and fear will destroy.

As a woman, a teen, and a proud American, it is incredibly saddening that I, along with millions of others, would have to grow up in a Trump presidency.

I'm not doing this because I dislike Trump, or because Hillary is a woman. I truly believe with all my heart that she is the most qualified and most fit candidate to serve as president of the United States, and as a president for ALL.

We are in for a brutal 4 years with Donald Trump being president, and all of our progress that we've EVER made as a nation will disappear. Let us go forward together, rather than backwards divided.

If you elect Donald Trump, we will live in a nation where our president promotes sexism, xenophobia, homophobia, Islamophobia, hate, discrimination, and inequality.

Please, with hope and desperation, reconsider your vote. Please consider casting your votes for Hillary Clinton. She is the best choice for the people, selected by the people. She knows what it takes, but most importantly, she has what it takes.

This is not who we are. Donald Trump is NOT who we are. He is everything that we are not. We have always been looked up to and immensely admired by other people and leaders around the world, and we must set the best example for them, and ourselves. We must set an example of incomparable equality for ALL, love over hate, unification over division, and progress instead of setbacks. Donald Trump is not a wise choice even in the least for our country. And I only hope you realize this.

Thank you.

Submitted by Emily Rine

I used to wonder, What would it feel like to have a Dad who reads bedtime stories to me before sleep? What would it feel like to have a Dad who scares all of the guys who'll try to date me? What would it feel like to have a Dad who puts time and effort in our relationship and never makes me feel unloved by him? What would it feel like if YOU didn't leave?

By my teenage years. I understood enough why you and Momma fought. You two were just victims of love. I know you did not leave with the intention of hurting me nor my sisters. But it did. A lot. And from time to time, I've come to realize that it's just a waste of time to hate you. And I've accepted it. And as an adult now, I would like to genuinely thank you.

Thank you for bringing me into this world,
Thank you for letting me see how amazing and strong Momma is. Being a single parent, playing both parts of parenting and still being so remarkable and caring 24/7. It was amazing to watch while growing up.. It showed me what it means to love someone and will do everything for them,
Thank you, because of you, I'm a stronger individual. I'm a wiser person when it comes to relationships now. I don't believe in everything I hear because you were the king of lies, but it helps. Not trusting everyone. If you never left, I wouldn't be who I am today.

You leaving made me realize one thing, that not everything works out and that's okay.
You leaving taught me a lot of life lessons at a young age.

So, I mean it when I say I don't resent you anymore. Yes, I love you and of course I still miss you from time to time. Sometimes I look at old photographs of us and realize the scar you left will never disappear. But after all these years I can say, genuinely, I forgive you. After all, Dads suppose to make their daughters strong, and that's exactly what you did to me. And if there's a chance to be with you, so be it. You were and always will be my Dad.

Sincerely,
Your Daughter

Submitted by Catherine Marie
Artwork by Manjit Thapp

I chose him because he always brings me back to Earth when I seem to have drifted elsewhere. I chose him because he is humble in his accomplishments.

I chose him because he loves to share his love for music, the cowboy way, animals, family, friends, and me. I chose him because he’s not at all what I dreamt of. He’s so much more than that.

He’s not perfect, none of us are, but he’s perfect for me because he reminds me every day how much I mean to him, how beautiful he thinks I am, how much he loves me.

I chose him because we can be out true selves around each other and that is exactly who we love. I chose him because most of the time we goofy with each other, life is entirely too short to be serious all the time, but we know when it’s time to be serious.

I love him because in his arms is where I find peace, because his smile is absolutely unforgettable, his laughter is most beautiful thing I’ve heard, his eyes are filled with the most genuine kindness, his kisses literally erase all my anxiety and worry.

I chose him because I wouldn’t want to experience life changing things without him or with anyone else. I chose him, because, I did.

Submitted via fb By Kristy Davenport