For Purple Hat Days with White Polka Dots and a Lavender Pompom on Top

Dear Granddaughter,

You love your purple hat with white polka dots and a huge lavender pompom on top. As a desert dweller, you don't have many opportunities to wear it. So you practiced wearing it in the house when we said we were going to the snow the next day.

You pulled the hat over your eyes. Thinking it was a one-time event, I snapped your photograph.

The next day you continued to wear your purple hat with white polka dots over your eyes. In every single picture.

I was not sure why.

Were you cold? Were you being silly? Was the hat too big?

Personally, I think the hat was so beautiful, you couldn't resist looking at it, from the inside out.

Whatever the reason, all I know is this.

In this life, there will always be someone who doesn't see your worth.

Your beauty.

Your unique view of the world.

As you grow older, please don't let that someonebe you.

To the rest of the purple hat wearers with white polka dots and a huge lavender pompom on top:

Don't let it be you either.

Be bold. Be brave.

Be you. Beautiful you.

******

A 2nd Act will be performing on March 18 at 3:00 pm at Peoria Center of the Arts. Eight cancer survivors (including yours truly) will be sharing their stories about their own 2nd acts after cancer.  Purchase tickets here. Proceeds go toward micro-grants for women starting over after cancer.