To the Mirabel Madrigals Who Have Struggled to Find Their Place in The World

To the person who never quite fit in. 

To the person who never felt as if they had a “gift.”

To the person who loves their family and does everything to make their relatives and the people they love proud, but they always seem to fall short.

To the Mirabel Madrigals,

It’s easy to feel hopeless – as if no matter what you do you’ll never measure up to the bar set by everyone around you. You weren’t the golden child with an inherent “purpose,” or direction in life. You weren’t first clarinet, second, or even third. You gave your all in every little thing you did and were constantly overshadowed by people who did less work but were “naturals.” You made every rehearsal, practice, worked overtime – you did everything you could to prove your worth and fit in, but when it came down to being included, you were still left out of the picture. 

If you could move mountains, you would have, but you couldn’t, so now what?

Your self-worth plummeted, and you did your best to find validation in the small ways you could. You became depressed because “What can I do?” You found people who weren’t good to you, because you wanted to feel as if you mattered to someone, anyone. Toxicity surrounded you but at least someone cared, right? 

You entered vicious cycles of gaslighting and love-bombing, that you struggled to break. You had to learn how to listen to yourself first and foremost. You had to break those cycles with the people who made you feel worthless.

You found healing. You reconnected with the people who genuinely loved you, who didn’t mean to hurt you, and are actually apologetic. You start finding hobbies and things that make you smile. You no longer have to beg to be seen. You needed a miracle, when you were your own all along. 

You still sometimes struggle with feeling inadequate or “not good enough.” You’re human – how could you not feel that way sometimes? But you’ve come out the other side and if you haven’t yet, you will. 

You will find your people, your place in the world, and not be forced to question whether you belong. 

You aren’t alone. You don’t need a “gift.” You’re perfect just as you are. 

Disney’s “Encanto” is available for streaming on Disney+