You Matter

Because you matter to me
Simple and plain and not much to ask from somebody
You matter to me
I promise you do, you, you matter too
I promise you do, you see?
You matter to me

You matter to me. You matter. To me. You matter to me.

Say that on repeat, because I'm starting to realize that not enough people hear those words. Not enough people at all.

....

I've walked past too many homeless people than I care to count.

It's a lot.

I mean, if you work where I work, it's inevitable. If you live in New York, it's inevitable.

But still, it's a lot.

And while I walk past these individuals more times than I care to count, it's never not once affected me. 

How can it not?

Cries for money. For food. For a life that's better than the one he or she is living - that sticks. Those are not cries that can roll off my back so easily. Each cry, it sticks.

This month, I'm working on a show in Salt Lake City.

Today was my first day off, and so I wanted to explore. To walk. To see this city. 

The second I stepped out of my building, I was confronted with a homeless woman.

And she wanted to ask me a question...

Maybe it was Paris. And Beuirt. And Kenya. Maybe it was the fact that I was called to this city to create art. Maybe it was the  sad state of the world in which we live - but something made me stop.

I listened to her questions. 

I told her not to worry as she apologized for her cold sores - and I took in as much of her story as I could.

And I'm reminded of a new song by Sara Bareilles - You Matter To Me.

Because you matter to me
Simple and plain and not much to ask from somebody
You matter to me
I promise you do, you, you matter too
I promise you do, you see?
You matter to me

In light of recent events, I'm wondering how often we forget to tell this to the people we care about. Not just lovers - but friends. Family members. Co-workers. People who make your life better - if only for a moment.

The world is not big enough to think that we're all isolated from one another. We need to matter to one another more - and we need to tell one other of the worth that we have in each other's lives. 

You matter. You always matter. Sheltered or homeless - you matter. You were once a light in someone's life - and even though it may dim, there's no reason why that light has to extinguish for forever. 

Life will always be complicated, but complications do not diminish your worth.

Take the time to listen to one another. Take the time to tell those whom you love that they matter.