BY ASHLEY   ELIZABETH    PETRYSHYN

Dear Girls,

Grab a coffee or a tea and settle in for moment with me? I'm about to tell you something profound and maybe something no one has told you at all yet. You are exactly who you are meant to be, you are made in the image and likeness of God and you are the way you are for a reason. You are perfect!

The world is a hard place to be a teenager. I was in the 9th grade when I sent my first text message, and now at the tender age 24 I have toddlers in my life with their own iPads. At the click of a button you have access to Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, and Instagram. Not to mention all the television shows you can watch and the magazines you can read. This is where you will find pictures of things they want you to buy or make-up they want to make you think you need. This is a billion dollar industry that thrives on young girls who need a confidence boost. But Shhh, here is a secret, you don't need them. Your hair, your clothes, your make-up, these are all things that people see on you. But what is in your heart and mind is what really matters. You can be smart and clever and read books and do well in school and in the end you can still be made to feel badly about yourself because you don't have the newest pair of jeans. WRONG! 

You know when people say something is good for your mind, body and soul? Well, the soul is the best part and your body is just the package it's wrapped in. You can decorate it anyway you want, but it is still just a holder for your magnificent mind and soul. When you are worrying about self confidence, just keep in mind, God made you. You have a purpose of something greater. Even if you cannot see it yet, there is a reason for your life and God knows why. 

I have worked in retail clothing for years and it is always my favourite thing when I can have a break through with a customer and she can leave my store feeling great about herself. I have had customers trying on clothes that actually start to break down and cry because they don't feel good about themselves. This breaks my heart. I can't fix that feeling in their hearts that they aren't good enough, but I can give them a little boost that day, even for a short while. 

I would like to walk around and hug all the girls who don't think they are beautiful. You are you and there is never going to be another person on this whole Earth who is exactly like you. You need to rock the gifts God gave you. Are you a painter? A writer? Do you love to sit with a guitar and pour out your heart to the world in the Key of C? Do it! Don't worry about others opinions, you all have a gift and the world needs it desperately. 

 This being said, I do not want you to be sitting there thinking that I am against girls who love playing around with hair and make-up and clothes. I actually love it. I change my hair colour probably as often as a mood ring would change and I love wearing bright shades of lipstick. But I am saying that I don't want you to base your worth off of it. If I had to wash my face of make-up and did not colour my hair, if I was in my natural state, I am still a 24 year old woman that God put on this Earth for a reason. Not getting caught up in the newest things you need to buy, does not in anyway lessen your worth.

I have one last thought for you, if you are a child of God who is fearfully and wonderfully made, what a title that is! Every morning when you awake and when you go to sleep, even while you are asleep, you are a child of God. That is a lucky title to have, and that alone should give you the self confidence you need to live your life the truest way you possibly can. 

Now, go out into the world and be yourself! You can't be anything better than that!

I think every person on this earth goes through moments that change them. You may not even know at the time, but when you look back you are going to see that little by little, your past makes you who you are. When I was in my early 20's I was so focused on what I thought I needed to be. I made sure that I kept my house in good order, I was staying on top of laundry, when guests came over I had a good selection of coffee. I would stay on top of current events and could  make a mean grocery list. I was always trying for a promotion at work and I always had to pick the best presents for my loved one. I wish I could tell you how much of my 24 years I have already wasted for being super early and waiting around for things.

This year, my 24th year of life has been my moment. I have a life that looks absolutely nothing like I thought it would, and yet it is perfect for me in my current season of life. A year ago I lived in a cool downtown apartment, I had a job downtown in the heart of the city. I was a fiance, I had a wedding dress in my closet and I was busy planning what I thought the rest of my life was going to look like.

                                                                                                          WRONG

My moment happened almost a year ago. I can tell you in the course of the last 12 months my life has changed and it has been so great. A year ago if you had told me this is what 24 looks like, I would have called you crazy. I am no longer engaged, I have moved to the north side of the city and have a new job! As someone who does not embrace change easily this has been a character building year for me. 

Lets talk about God. You could say God and I have always had a relationship. Since I was young I have been going to church and youth groups and always knew there was something out there bigger than me. It has been more in the last year that we have become best friends. Last year on the lowest day of life so far, I prayed for him to show me the way, to ask him to bring me out of this broken heart and deflated soul. And oh did he answer! He listened to me even when I thought no one could hear. 

People say things happen for a reason. I would like to think things happen because thats what God wants. I am suprised every day now by the turns my path takes, and even more so by the people who I have met along the way. I have been so blessed in the last year of my life to get to meet so many new people who have added so much more to my journey that I could ever imagine. God knows what my plan is, and he knows I was trying too hard to push what I thought my life was supposed to look like, as opposed to what I needed. For this I am grateful. Wherever you are on your journey, or whatever season of life you are in. Just stay calm because God has a plan for you!