At the end of a recent email from my almost 16-year-old little sister-in-law, she wrote the following:

p.s.- so I had to read this book called 'Bird by Bird-instructions on writing and life' by Anne Lammot and the whole time i was reading it i couldn't stop thinking of you so i think you should read it :) love you!

Need I express how much that warmed my heart? Of course I responded with a whole ecstatic declaration of it being my favorite book and author of all time!

There's something about being known and understood at the very heart and soul of who you are that's thrilling. But that kind of knowing is so rare, because it takes intention and careful observation to know a person in such a way. Clearly Dakotah is one who pays attention, because she's intelligent and attentive for one, but more so because she's an artist and romantic in her own right. (Though I'm not certain she's fully aware of it just yet.) One of the foundational qualities of any great artist is their natural ability to pay attention, be aware, observe, see things in a way that no one else does.

Case & Point: What will forever be one of my favorite memories of our entire trip was the moment she stepped onto the lawn beneath the Eiffel Tower for the very first time, and was so moved she began to weep. That kind of a reaction is not one of a tourist. It's one of an artist.

Cheers to being seen, being known, being celebrated. It's a rare gift, and in this particular case just happens to be reciprocal... even rarer.

Are you intentional about really observing and knowing the people in your life? Do you have someone in your life who truly sees you?