I know you miss your hair. It was once shiny and long, and now it’s gone. I get it. I know you look at yourself with great disappointment now when you gaze into the mirror. But I wish you could see that bald is beautiful.

Don’t give me that look. Don’t tell me I have hair so I can’t understand what it’s like to be you. I know what it’s like to not see my own beauty. We all take it for granted, wishing we could be like someone else and all the while they’re wishing to be like us.

Before you tell me no one wants to be like you, take a good hard look at yourself in the mirror. Try to see what I see. What everyone else sees. Do you see it? Look beyond the baldness that you keep getting so hung up on. Look into your eyes and see your soul. See the kindness of a person who, while young, underwent something so difficult to endure that she knows the deepest kind of pain and therefore can be the deepest kind of kind.

You are a survivor of some of the worst kinds of hell that many people don’t make it back from and your baldness is a symbol of that fight. Your baldness shines outwardly to reflect the light from within you. A light that lets others know that you will be their inspiration in being strong.

But if you don’t believe me now, that’s okay. Because you will. And until you do, we can find different wigs to wear each day. It can be fun, like a game of dress up. Choose styles you like and be anybody you want to be. How about red? Or pink? Try something different and fun. You can be anyone you want to be.

Of course, the best thing is to just try to be yourself. It’s what I really want for you, but if I can’t convince you that bald is beautiful, then I’ll be there with you wearing pink, purple, blue, or even rainbow wigs so you don’t feel alone.

Ignore the eyes of others. People are curious by nature, and the eyes truly reveal more about us than we want to let on. Some will stare out of pity, while some will stare out of curiosity. When you feel too many eyes upon you, just stop and forgive them. They just don’t know and life is too precious and short to waste it feeling angry or humiliated.

Don’t get hung up on these little things and try to embrace the bald and beautiful way that you are. You’ll be glad you did.