We're both insignificant and essential.

One morning when Jackson was little, I asked him, 'what shall I write about today?'

And he said: "Wite about bees."

"That's a lovely idea" I said, "What would you say about bees?"

"They make honey. They've got black and yellow stwipes. They buzz about."

"Ooh yes, that's brilliant, thanks buddy!"

(I'll be honest, I didn't think I'd be writing about bees.)

Driving back from school, I got this feeling that sometimes wells up in the car. It usually happens at a roundabout waiting for my turn to move across. I look at the other people waiting, and the cars carefully following the lines and moving along; everybody doing their bit to follow the rules that make things work, and it makes me cry. Or sometimes I think about all the parents doing their best to get their kids to school, with all the stuff they need in their bag.

Little moments of humans being human.

How many of them do you think are giving themselves any praise for what they're doing? I reckon less than 1%. More likely, they're beating themselves up for something they've done, or berating themselves for not doing more.

People are so hard on themselves. I bet you're hard on yourself. (No judgment, I'm with you.)

So today, I want to say this to you:

You're doing way better than you think you are.

Life isn't always easy. It can be chaotic, and challenging, and sometimes lonely. But like the bees, we get organised. We overcome. We work together.

You might feel that what you do doesn't matter, that you're not part of something important. It's not true. We're all tiny cogs in the mysterious mechanics of this giant Universe. We're both insignificant and essential. What you do today matters.

And I think the most important thing you can do today is be a little bit kinder to yourself than you were yesterday.

Drove to work and followed the rules of the road? Helped your kids to school? Said thank you to someone who served you? Tiny little micro-moments of magic that grease the wheels of community.

We are like bees. We're brave, we go about our business, we communicate. Unlike the bees, we're often horrible to ourselves in the process.

Maybe today, close your eyes for a moment and give yourself credit for three things you've done. Anything. 'Tiny' things. The stuff you don't usually give yourself any praise for. Those day to day motions and interactions are life. They're what hold us together and make it work.

You don't have to be saving the world, influencing millions, or making billions to matter. You already matter. Just by being here, you're enough. Whatever you manage to do today? It's plenty.

You're a little piece of magic.

And sometimes I cry in my car with joy and awe and gratitude because of how wonderful you are.

Much love,

Michelle xxx