Ashley Nicolette Frangipane, better known as Halsey, has easily been one of the most influential women of my life. I often wonder what it must feel like to be her and if she realizes that she has reached parts of my soul that I hadn't even known existed; as I am positive a few others would agree. Whenever I am feeling broken, as though I have been shattered and spread across an empty field-- Halsey is there. Whenever I am feeling high on the tantalizing hope for a better tomorrow-- Halsey is there. Whenever I am feeling unanchored and perturbed with my direction in life-- Halsey is there. While there are numerous ways that she has shined light on the darkest areas of my life, I have broken it down to 11 Times Halsey Saved Me From Myself:

1. Halsey made me realize it's okay to need someone other than myself

"I'm not just some f*****g martyr who's trying to make all of these lost, misfit kids feel better; I need them to help me feel normal too." ~ Halsey

One of my greatest attributes is how strong I am. One of my greatest weaknesses is how strong I am. Sometimes I am so strong that I can survive situations that may appear unimaginable to others, yet during this process my strength often results in isolation. Sometimes being strong causes you to feel as though you can only rely on yourself. When I read the Rolling Stone article about Halsey, I stumbled upon this quote regarding her needing her fans just as much as they needed her and it was eye-opening. For someone with strength that is tangible when simply listening to her hypnotic melodies to acknowledge the need for others, why shouldn't I? Why shouldn't you?

2. Whenever Halsey talks about mental illness and I remember it's okay to be flawed

It's no secret that Halsey has openly admitted to being bipolar-- heck, it's the premise of most of her addictive lyrics. I have never seen a star own who they were more than her and it's invigorating. While I have never personally been diagnosed with a mental health disorder, my mother is bipolar and my father committed suicide-- needless to say, I sympathize with her. Halsey is flawed, yet she is successful. Halsey is flawed, yet she is beautiful. We are flawed, yet it's okay.

3. That time Halsey reminded me you don't always have to process things RIGHT now

"If I actually let myself feel and process and understand everything that's happened to me in the past two years, I would f*****g combust." ~ Halsey

Referring back to the Rolling Stone article, Halsey references that sometimes you need to consider what is most important to you; feel the good and enjoy the good, or feel the bad and risk messing everything up? Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to always acknowledge the things that cause distress in your life. It is okay to go days, months, even years, before opening up those wounds and consolidating them. Sometimes it's okay to ignore the bad and just feel the good for a while.

4. Halsey brought beauty to the term "inconvenient woman"

As Halsey stated in an interview with Justine Harman from Elle, we aren't always going to be agreeable, we aren't always going to be calm. We are entitled to our emotions. Being an "inconvenient woman" today, well, that's simply beautiful.

5. Halsey reminded me that if my intentions and actions don't match up-- don't stress it

"I think my intentions are more admirable than my actions." ~Halsey

My intentions to be a better version of myself, to do good, to be different should be recognized as good enough. If my actions don't always match up, I am not going to stress about it anymore. It is my intentions that reflect who I am as a person and my actions simply solidify this for those who may be unaware (mostly myself).

6. I don't belong to anyone but myself

"You do not belong to anybody but yourself" ~ Halsey

7. "And I promised myself I wouldn't let you complete me" ~ Halsey

The song, "Is There Somewhere?" is one of my all time favorites as I feel that it truly resonates with me. I am sure that every college girl can relate to the feeling behind the words within this song and personalize it-- the sign of a true artist is to be able to accomplish this. This song speaks to the complexities of forbidden love, a theme I am positive every young woman can relate to. These words remind me that it's okay to recognize your emotions and acknowledge them, even if they aren't reciprocated. This song is hauntingly beautiful yet heartbreaking-- as is the process of love, itself.

8. My past failures don't define my future successes, thank you Halsey

When Halsey was 19 she was a college-drop-out, couch surfing, tatted up with no money. Today she is a successful artist, singer, and role model to many. With not doing so well this past semester and embarking on a semester off, I look at how far she has come and it provides me with hope. I may not be where I want to be right now, it doesn't mean that I cannot make it there one day (and so can you).

9. "Are you insane like me"? ~ Halsey

Like I stated prior I come from a family history of mental illness and although I am not diagnosed with any conditions, I have my moments. Let's be honest, any 20-something-year-old female can relate to this song and the meaning behind it. We all have our moments of extreme mania and on the other hand, depression. Own it, girl! Accept that at this age, we are simply learning how to handle our emotions and how to accept ourselves. I'm insane, what can I say? I own it, you should too. Thank you again, Halsey.

10. I have been through a lot and for that, I am a survivor

No matter what it is that I may go through, that you may be going through, braving the storm makes you a survivor. Regardless of what the outcome is, if you are left standing on the other side, then you have made it. I don't allow myself to ever feel sorry for the things that I cannot control in my life, yet what I need to do more often is simply give myself a little more credit. I have been through some s**t, but I'm still here-- I am a survivor. After reading about Halsey's story and really engulfing myself in her lyrics, I recognized the importance of giving myself a little bit more slack and acknowledging how far I have come. This, my friend, is a lesson that I feel every girl/boy my age should consider.

Last, but not least..

11. Halsey showed me not to let ANYTHING get in the way of living a rewarding life

“If you suffer from chronic pain or a debilitating disease please know that I have found time to live a crazy, wild, rewarding life AND balance my treatment and I hope so much in my heart that you can too" ~Halsey

I suffer from anxiety and sometimes it can seem debilitating. There are days I won't leave my bed because I am too anxious. Days where I won't respond to anyone because I am too anxious. I can go days without eating sometimes because the anxiety has suppressed my appetite. I can have these days and still live a rewarding life. Halsey-- you have shown me that balance is key to achieving this goal and for that, I thank you.

If you don't know who Halsey is, look her up. Listen to her music. Research her life. She is a 20-something-year-old girl just like you and me, yet she is so much more. She isn't simply a performer-- she is a role model, she is a friend, she is beautiful, she is flawed. She has taught me more about myself than I knew possible and for that, I thank you.

I think I speak for a lot of fans when I say this-- Thank you for being there for me through the thick and the thin, even if you don't realize it.

Sincerely,

-M

xox