The world is better with you in it.
I know you may not believe that right now, but it’s true.
Since the moment you showed up here you have altered this place in glorious, precise, irrefutable ways.
From the day you were born, the planet has never been quite the same, because your once in history, never-to-ever-be-repeated arrangement of gifts, dreams, quirks, talents, and passions have beautifully shaped it without you realizing it.
Your fingerprints are everywhere:
on the people who first celebrated your arrival,
on classmates you chased on the playground,
on friends who gave up their secrets to you,
on lovers who’ve found shelter in your embrace,
on strangers you passed for but a few seconds.
Every single one of these people would grieve your leaving.
I get that you can’t see that because you’re so close to you; because from where you’re standing all that you can see is the familiar. All you can see is your terrible pain, your perceived failings, your terrifying circumstances.
You can’t really see yourself clearly anymore.
You’re so used to the sound of your own voice, that you can’t hear how beautiful it sounds to everyone else; the way it is the sweetest music to people who love you.
You’re so used to your reflection, that you can only focus on the things that seem like flaws, not realizing these are the well-loved landmarks of a face that make so many people feel at home.
You’ve been living within your story so long, you’re oblivious to the countless other stories that you have re-written with your presence; kind words you offered, acts of goodness you performed, creative works you shared, laughter you delivered, memories you made.
This has all made a difference.
It matters.
You matter.
When we are in our moments of greatest darkness, these truths are easily obscured from view, which is why I’m telling you—because from where I’m standing I see you, even if you don’t.
I see that humanity is the sum total of every life that has found its way here—and your life is making us something we wouldn’t be without you.
I see what your presence means here, and because of that I also realize what your absence would mean.
It would mean a world less compassionate, less feeling, less funny, less loving, less kind than it currently is—and that, my friend, is the truest truth I can give you. It may not make you feel any better about staying here, but it’s something I needed to say, it’s simply as I can say it.
And yeah, maybe my motivations in telling you all this are a little less than pure; maybe it’s somewhat selfish—because this place is in such need of good people and because you have that goodness in you.
But if I didn’t tell you I’d be lying to you.
You may be sad and scared and angry and hopeless, but you aren’t alone.
In ways you can’t fathom or measure, (but in ways that aren’t any less true because of that fact), this world in sharing your life with you, and it would suffer a tremendous loss if you were gone.
You can disagree with me if you’d like—in fact, I’d love that.
You can tell me in great detail why I’m wrong about you and your beauty and your worth.
It would give me profound joy to sit with you and listen to you contest my opinion at length—because it would mean you’re still here.
Friend, this may not be something you want to hear right now, but as someone who is sharing this world with you, know that the world is better with you in it.
That’s just the way it is.
Order John’s forthcoming book ‘HOPE AND OTHER SUPERPOWERS” here!
