1. You don’t need others to make decisions for you.

You are about to have to make a lot of decisions you never thought you would have to make. You aren’t going to have anyone to help make those decisions and they are going to be some of the toughest ones you’ll ever have to face. But I promise you will make it through it. Once you make it through the tough ones, the simple ones will be so much easier.

2. Never apologize for being happy.

This year is gonna suck. You are going to want to crawl into a hole more times than you’d like to admit throughout it. So enjoy the moments that make you smile. Don’t let other people’s ideas of what you should be doing make you feel like you shouldn’t be happy. Never let them take away your joy.

3. Don’t fake it, though.

Being genuinely happy is great. But trying to force it or fake it isn’t going to benefit anyone. It is completely normal and understandable to have bad days. Don’t try to force being happy just to save the people around you. You aren’t doing them any favors by letting them think you’re okay.

4. You’re not a burden.

There are going to be moments where you feel like you are nothing but a burden or a hardship for the people you love. Don’t. They love you and they will help you carry this. This is going to be a process. You will get through it together.

5. Don’t forget to breathe.

This year is going to go by extremely fast and incredibly loud. There’s a lot of things that are going to go on. Don’t forget to take some time for yourself. Don’t forget to take a few deep breaths and tell yourself, "you got this. It’s okay to take some 'me' time."

6. Real friends will be there.

There are going to be a lot of things that happen this year that you would expect your friends to be there for. If they aren’t, don’t be sad. The ones that are there are the ones that truly have your back and are going to be there for you. The others were just lessons. That is okay. Some people are meant to stay forever and some are meant to be a chapter. Let them go. You’re better off for it.

7. God will ALWAYS be there.

When you feel so alone that the world feels cold, pray. When you feel like you are ripping apart at the seams, read the Bible. God is always there and He is always watching. He has your back no matter what and He will be there for you when you stumble. He will be there to dry those tears from your eyes and lift you up when you’ve hit rock bottom. Cling to Him with all your might.

8. Don’t hate yourself for your mistakes.

There are going to be a lot of people criticizing your every move this year. Don’t let them get to you. Everyone makes mistakes. You can’t dwell on past ones. You have to learn from them and move on. Mistakes don't make the person. It’s how you recover from them that makes you who you are.

9. Never give up on yourself.

There are going to be days this year that you will feel immensely alone and broken. There are going to be days when you just want to give up on everything. Don’t. You are stronger than you even realize. The days you feel like you aren’t, remember that if you can make it through what you have, you can make it through anything.

10 Be confident.

You are on your own again. That can be incredibly scary. But instead of letting it define you, let it guide you. Make the risky decisions. Try new things. Be confident in who you’re becoming. You are going to start loving yourself again. Just wait.

11. Don’t rush.

You’re the type of person who wants to get things done. You are very fast pace and spontaneous. Most of the time that is great. Sometimes, though, you need to realize that some things need time. Feelings, healing, making decisions; they all need time. Don’t rush things that need time. It will make it harder in the long run.

12. Have some fun.

With everything happening this year, remember to have a little fun. Those fun moments will be far and in between, so take advantage of them while you can. Let loose and always remember that you are allowed to have fun. Never think that you aren’t.

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