Dear Briana, Love Bee
Dear Briana,
I remember when you were 26, and you had just left your six year relationship. For the first time, you were truly broken in all ways. You were back at home, living with your parents, becoming a functioning alcoholic, gaining weight, and partying all the time. I remember thinking that you would never be able to bounce back from that.
I was scared for you, Briana—not just because of your downward spiral, but because you had lost all sight of your future. You lost the glimmer in your eye, the pep in your step, and the desire to really live instead of just exist in complacency and stagnancy. I was worried for you, and there were many times I wondered if you would ever be yourself again.
There’s always light at the end of the tunnel, though, because here you are five years later, and I can’t believe the transformation you’ve had. It still amazes me, sometimes, to see you blossoming into the beautiful flower I always knew you were destined to be. Your skin is aging gracefully. Your smile is wider and brighter. Your spirit is full of love and hope for the very things you had lost grip of. You’re walking with a purpose in your purpose.
I am so proud of you.
You took your broken heart and mended it to discover the greatest love of all: love of self. It’s been honestly remarkable to watch you grow. Your light was obviously too strong for the darkness to keep you bound.
Thank you, Briana. Thank you for choosing yourself and finally learning to love and accept yourself completely. Thank you for choosing your own path and not allowing yourself to conform to anyone’s standards. Thank you for your perseverance and determination to make your business not only successful, but impactful.
I thank you most, Briana, for honoring the pain and the joy of the little girl inside of you. She plays a huge part in who you are. Every time you randomly burst into song, quote old ‘90s movies, or spend an hour learning the latest TikTok dance, you’re giving her life. Thank you for never letting her die and for showing me that it’s possible and healthy to tap into our childlike desires and instincts.
Thank you for opening your heart up again to the possibility of love. You could have let these relationships deplete you and make you guarded, but you didn’t. You learned that relationships are just mirrors to show us ourselves. When we neglect ourselves and always place ourselves last on the list, we attract people who also do that. But when we prioritize ourselves, establish healthy boundaries in our relationships, accept ourselves through-and-through, and love us just the way we are, we attract bountiful relationships that not only add to that love of self, but allow us to have someone else to share it with, too.
Thank you for choosing your freedom. But most importantly, thank you for saving your life. I can’t imagine what this world would be like without you.
Love,
Bee
