Marisa Donnelly

Your heart isn’t any less beautiful now that he’s gone. Your soul doesn’t have any less sparkle with him not by your side.

At some point in every day, do something for yourself, just because.

I want your time and your touch, your adventurous side, your longing to experience. I just want you, in all your forms, to discover what’s out there. Discover it with me.

How many times have you picked yourself off the ground, dusted off your dirty clothes, and began again? How many days have you continued forward, even when you thought you’d reached the end? How many moments did you want to give up, call it quits, throw in the towel on your dreams and maybe even on your life?. But you didn’t.

I’ll trace the freckles on your cheeks and the lines of the tattoos on your arms. I will memorize every part of you, even the pieces you try to hide, and I will love them anyway.

He doesn’t have expectations.

When you bring her into a hug or kiss in public.

“I Googled you and I was wondering…”

Knowing you, you’ve probably glanced in the mirror a thousand times, checking your lipstick, messing with that one little bobby pin or the tendril that’s hanging perfectly to frame your face. I hope you know that there’s not a thing you could do to look any more beautiful than you do right now.

Be clear with your intentions from the start.

“I’m always scared that the reason I fall in love with someone is the reason I’ll fall out of love with them.”

I’m not sad. I’m not spending my days looking into the mirror, hating my reflection because I can no longer see you. I don’t see my life stretched out before me, long and empty without you in it.

DEAR STRAPS: CAN YOU JUST STAY ON MY DAMN SHOULDER?! YOU HAVE ONE JOB.

Being a daughter of Christ means that you have the greatest love one could ever provide. More whole than any boyfriend, more complete than any husband, more persistent and passionate and perfect than you will find in any relationship, any marriage.

There isn’t a perfect guy. But this is a good thing. Because our lives are built on imperfections. It is our flaws and quirks that make us unique, that define who we are, that shape the decisions we make and the life we create for ourselves.

We’ve reached two separate paths, like Robert Frost said.
But divided you cannot conquer both.

You apologize. The real kind of apology. The one that goes to the core of you, that brings forth tears.
That acknowledges your imperfections, even the ones you try to hide.

You apologize. Fully, in the way that really digs deep. You apologize for the little things, the big things, and the everythings in-between. You reach into the most guarded part of your heart and let those walls down.