An Ode to the Old Lilly

Ladies and gentleman, 

We are gathered here today with heavy hearts as we lay the old Lilly to rest. Although we are sad to see her overly positive spirit go, the new Lilly reminds us that a positive spirit truly never dies and by that thought, we are uplifted! 

The old Lilly was kind, but subservient; outgoing, but much too timid when it came to her needs; and calm, but only as a facade to hide her anxieties. She was a lot of good things, but had negative aspects to match. While nothing looked quite wrong with Lilly on the outside, there were constantly storms brewing when she shied away from the things that scared her, or when friends let her down, or when she couldn't find balance in her life. 

The old Lilly wanted everyone to like her and constantly needed approval from her peers. The new Lilly reminds us that not only is this an unattainable goal, but that the only person who should truly like you is YOU! "Be confident in yourself and your abilities; ask for help when you need it; and, remember that you are only human," says the new Lilly. 

The old Lilly had anxiety that was rooted deeply in her desire to be in control. The new Lilly wakes up every day feeling grateful to see another sunshine and laughter-filled day. "Everything happens for a reason. Not everything is in your hands at all times," says the new Lilly to herself when life presents obstacles.

The old Lilly could not seem to find balance; work and play did not exist in her life at the same time and she felt like she could only have one or the other. For the new Lilly, finding the balance between work and play is a constant struggle, but she has found more balance in her life than the old Lilly could dream of. "At the end of the day, every task will get done, but you will not feel fulfilled if you do not take time for yourself every day. Even if they are small acts of self-care, take time out of your busy day to remind yourself that you deserve the best that life has to offer," the new Lilly muses.

While we wearily lay the old Lilly down, the new Lilly resembles the old in many ways. The new Lilly bears all the positive qualities of the old Lilly, and while there are still flaws - everyone has them - the best of Lilly is here and is yet to come!