I've had a special place in my heart for children all my life.

Much of my free time during junior high and high school was taken up babysitting.

I worked at a Camp Fire camp each summer from the time I was 15 through the summer before my Junior year in college.

And then I began my career as a pediatric nurse.

Children are fragile.

They need love, encouragement, and gentle guidance.

Children are not always kind to one another.

It's easy for them to get discouraged and feel ostracized.

I worry about children today.

Especially those who appear to be different.

Those who are struggling with their own identity.

Those from less than nurturing homes.

Those who don't fit into the mold of a perfect American.

That would be Caucasian, rigid Christian, and wealthy.

Here's what I want to say to all children everywhere:

You were created by a loving Being.

You were created to be exactly who you are.

You are loved exactly as you are.

No grown up has the right to try and change you.

Until you are more than 20 years old, you will be in the process of learning who you are, what you believe, and what path you need to follow.

Relax, and tune in to your heart and gut.

Read a lot.

Do research on the topics and ideas that interest you, that you have questions about, and that bring you joy and peace.

Stay away from the people that cause you anxiety, or make your stomach clench.

You don't have to have lots of friends to be lovable.

You don't need to earn love.

You are lovable, worthy of respect, and beautiful just the way you are.

Do you know what attracts people to you?

Confidence.

Once you figure out the activities you enjoy doing, the concepts and beliefs that you feel strongly about, and embrace them, you will become more relaxed, have more energy, and begin to feel content.

It will take time.

Allow yourself to try different things, to fail, and to be disappointed.

Just don't give up.

Keep educating yourself and continue to try new things.

And above all, listen to your gut and follow your heart.

If other children treat you badly, know that they learned that behavior from someone else.

That means they have been treated badly also, and by trying to make you feel bad they think they have power over you.

So look at them with compassion and simply walk away. 

You did nothing to deserve it, and then again, neither did they.

The problem in this country and the world today is that so many people have been hurt and feel afraid.

They are all trying to have power.

They are looking at anyone around them to blame for their fear and insecurity.

So they are deciding what every person should believe, how they should act, and making laws the restrict their behavior.

But if we could learn to honor the individuality of each person, to respect the differences and listen to what they believe, we could find common ground.

We would find that no matter what church they attend, what country they are from, what color their skin is, or who they choose to spend time with- we all are human beings with hurts, hearts, and dreams.

We all want to find a way to not only survive life, but to prosper and feel loved.

But we can't love and respect other people if we don't love and respect ourselves.

So that's the great secret.

Learn who you are and what you believe.

Then allow yourself to love those things about you and be proud of it.

You were created by a loving being just as you are.