Loved Into Becoming

Sometimes it is easy to get caught up in everything that is happening in the world, where we still want to go, what we still want to achieve, who we are in the process of becoming. Through all of that, I ask you to take a moment with me, to be grateful for this present moment, to be where your feet are, and to say good job for where you are right now.

I do not know you or the kind of day you are having, but you are here today, and that means something. I of course have future plans, I am still growing and still learning, but sometimes I like to pause and reflect on who I am now and how grateful I am for all the versions of me that brought me here. It has not been easy, and there is still a long way to go, but I am grateful for the woman who sits here typing this to you.

As I reflect on how I am handling things better than even a month ago I would have, I feel proud, and that pride turns into gratitude. Gratitude not just for myself, but for every person who has impacted me on my journey to this very point. The truth is, even in the moments I have felt alone, I have never truly been alone, I have had a village of people in my corner every single day, and I am so incredibly lucky for that.

We are all walking muses, a living collection of the people who came before us, who stand beside us, and who will come after. Every person we encounter leaves something behind, a lesson, a softness, a strength, and we carry those pieces with us, woven into the fabric of who we are, with love, with gratitude, with the courage to keep going when life feels heavy.

I have been deeply privileged to be surrounded by beautiful souls who have shaped me in ways both loud and quiet, some through words, some through example, some simply by staying.

I became emotional thinking about everyone who has made an impact on me and helped me become who I am today, and I felt called to put it into words. It led me here, writing this now, wanting to publicly thank the people who have shaped me, who have loved me, who have poured into me. This is a love letter to you, a letter of gratitude and reverence, for being who you are and for helping me become who I am.

Thank you for loving me, for teaching me, for holding space for my soul to feel seen and heard. I am who I am because I have loved and been loved by you, and I will carry pieces of you with me, always.

(This is a love letter to the people who have made me who I am in my 27 years of life, not everyone because that list would be endless, but if your name is not written here, please know your imprint still lives within me and thank you for walking this journey with me.)

From me to you

To my mom:

You have taught me what it means to be resilient, to never stop fighting, to not back down in the face of turbulent times, to put in energy and effort even when you don’t want to because those moments are usually the most important and most defining. My wish for you is that you can know when to stop fighting and choose the peace that you deserve.

To my dad:

You have taught me what it means to be selfless, to be kind and giving of time and patience, without keep score. You give everything without asking for anything in return. You are a calming and bountiful presence in the world.

To my angel dad:

You have taught me that your legacy, who you are, how you treat people, how you walk through life will always leave a mark, so make that mark one that is kind, loving, and brings light to others. You have taught me that nothing is impossible and that with enough tenacity, I can make anything happen, because I have people that love and support me on this Earth and up in the heavens.

To my sister:

You have taught me the importance of living life to the fullest, to seek out experiences. To grab life by the horns and pull it in your own direction. You still have so much life ahead of you, but you already have taught me so much. You speak all that you want into existence, and it is truly remarkable.

To my life partner, my dear Mike:

You have helped me see the masterpieces that are hidden in the details. By being you, steadfast in your ways, in your morals and values, you have shaped my appreciation for the things that make life worth living. You have encouraged me to strengthen my bonds with my friends and family because your community is everything to you and it is beautiful to see you show up for the people you love time and time again. You have inspired me to better myself in every facet because I want to be better for myself, for you, for our future together. To put my head down and do what needs to be done because only I can change my circumstances, you have shined a light on my own strength, helped me find the person who I have always been, but has become stronger because of your push, your tenacity for life, for your strength and the sturdy foundation that you provide.

To vovó:

You have taught me that if you are genuine and true to yourself, you are able to reinvent yourself in a beautiful way. If you learn from your mistakes and genuinely try to be better, acknowledge wrong doings, take ownership of them and live life in a better manner, you are able to become a different version of yourself for yourself, but to others as well.

To nonna:

You have shown me what day to day resilience really is. You have such a caring and kind heart, and you have been tested throughout your life, but you have always led with kindness in the darkest of times, always bringing about positive energy and clarity to situations that are confusing and frightening. Always remaining steadfast and ground in the importance of health before anything else. You have helped me be in the now and feel present in the moment no matter what is happening.

To Tia Li:

You are a fighter through and through, but you are also equally a lover of everyone and everything. You have gone through so many struggles in life, but not once did your faith waiver in who you are, your family, and your life. You have made each decision in life to better your family, always putting the first and I am so proud to see you living a better life. You have taught me to always lead and live with kindness no matter who or what is in your way. Through love, family, and faith, you can do it all. Your legacy will live on for lifetimes to come and it will start with your 4 beautiful young men that would not be who they are without you.

To Didi, my godmother:

You have taught me what it means to be level-headed in the face of adversity. To look at problems or situations from all perspectives. To be calm in the midst of the storm because that is when we need to be patient and calm the most. You have raised your boys with love and a steady foundation, and it shows in the wonderful young men that they are today.

To Zia Anna:

You have taught me the importance of being care-free. Not in the sense of not caring about anything, no. In the sense of allowing life to happen and then allowing yourself to be in control of the situation by controlling your perspective and your reaction. You have a way about yourself that is intentionally half-hazardous, it is freeing, it is blissfully aware.

To Carla:

You inspire me every day by your tenacity for life, for adventure, to see the world, to meet its people, to explore yourself and everything you are capable of. You have taught me that the world is bigger than we could ever imagine with more opportunities that you could think of, you just have to go out there and find them, wherever they take you.

To Elisa Bruna:

Your adventurous spirit is something I have always admired. You move through life with an open mind and a belief that the universe is endless, waiting to be explored. You say yes to possibility. You chase what excites you. Everyone knows you, and you seem to know everyone, because your energy is contagious. Your excitement for life pulls people in. You know what you want, and you go after it without hesitation. You speak your mind. You stand in your truth. You are unapologetically yourself, and I love you for that.

To Elisa Bionda:

You have always mentored me like a big sister. I look for your 'consiglio,' your advice, because you carry a wisdom that feels far beyond your years. Thank you for always being a listening ear, for caring deeply, for being a safe space where love is never conditional. You have taught me what vulnerability looks like, not as weakness, but as strength. You have shown me how to hold space gently, and how to share it with others. Thank you for trusting me with your tenderness and for teaching me how to honor my own.

To Patrik:

Your life has not been easy, and yet you have always carved out your own corner of the world. You have remained unapologetically yourself, even when that would have been the harder choice. That kind of steadiness is rare.

It takes courage to move through the world with such a clear sense of who you are and not bend under pressure. I admire that in you deeply. You inspire me to stand just as firmly in myself.

To Pietro:

You have a love for life that I have rarely seen before. There is something about the way you move through the world, always energetic, always smiling, always ready to love out loud. You wear your heart on your sleeve, and you never hesitate to show the people around you how much they mean to you. That kind of openness is rare. It is brave. It is beautiful. It is more of what this world needs. Thank you for sharing your love so freely, with me, with all of us, with anyone lucky enough to cross your path. I hope you never lose that light, because it changes the rooms you walk into.

To Hayley:

My love for you knows no bounds. You are the first person I ever felt unconditional love from. From the moment we met at six years old on that soccer field to watching you become a mother to your beautiful boys, I have always been able to be fully myself around you. We have grown up side by side, learning how to be people together, making mistakes, stumbling, figuring it out. And in every version of me, you stayed. You loved me through it all. You are loyalty. You are kindness. You are love in its most steadfast form. Thank you for showing me that I am worthy of being loved for all of me, not just the easy parts.

To Taylor:

My dear, sweet Taylor. You have helped me calm and navigate the oceans of emotion that have risen and fallen within me my entire life. When the tides felt too high, you never told me to quiet them. You sat beside me and helped me understand them.

You have healed parts of me I did not even know were wounded. Thank you for your patience. For your softness. For reminding me that feelings are not weaknesses, no matter how big or overwhelming they may seem. Your empathy, your kindness, your heart, they are sacred to me. I cherish you endlessly.

To Amanda:

You taught me how to take up space. That the world is your runway, literally and figuratively. You taught me to wear the good outfit to the grocery store because life itself is an occasion. Because every moment deserves to be met with intention and joy.

Your love for yourself and for life is contagious. The radiance in your aura spills onto everyone around you. Thank you for sharing your light with me. Thank you for blessing me with your sun.

To Courtney:

You move through life with the kind of ease that feels like wind blowing through your hair on a crisp autumn day. There is something about you that makes everything feel lighter, fresher, more fun. You are generous with your time, your energy, your presence.

With you, I know I am in good company. I know I will laugh. I know I will feel free. You are the rainbow after the storm, the reminder that joy always finds its way back.

Mike, my boss:

In the short time we have worked together, you have reminded me that movement is everything. You never stop swimming. You never stop dreaming. And you do not just dream, you write those dreams down and turn them into something tangible.

Your drive to keep learning, growing, and setting a new standard is inspiring. You do not just want to compete, you want to create. To build something that did not exist before. You lead from the front, and you challenge those around you to rise with you. I admire that. I want to carry that same fire forward in my own way.

I understand now that none of us are built alone, that who we are is shaped by every hand that held us, every word that steadied us, every person who chose to stay.

What a privilege it is to walk beside you in this life, to learn from you, to heal with you, to grow through all that this world places in front of us.

I love who I am because I carry pieces of you within me, your strength, your softness, your courage, your faith. I am a living collection of the love that surrounds me, woven together by every lesson and every kindness that has touched my life.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for loving me through every version of myself. Thank you for holding space for my becoming.

And if this moved you even for a moment, I invite you to pause and think about the people who have shaped you, the ones who steadied you, the ones who stayed. Tell them. Write to them. Hold them close. None of us are meant to walk this life alone.

Thank you for reading ♡ With love, Laura