I would like to start out by saying two things. First thing is I'm sorry you have to fight so hard and so long with something that may never leave you. Mental illnesses, no matter which one, are grueling and horrible. They don't come to a specific race, gender, religion, or person. They haunt so many people and it truly is terrible. The second thing I'd like to say is congratulations, you made it through another day, heck, you made it through another minute, celebrate every victory, you are a survivor. You are battling something that has taken lives, don't ever let it control your desire to live. You belong on this earth, you have a purpose.

There will be thoughts that fill your mind with darkness, thoughts that tell you to give up. Whatever you do, don't give up. With every bad thing that has, and will happen, there are even more good things that are awaiting you in life. So many people are taken from us in life too early by things they had no control over. You have a chance that they don't, you have a chance they wish they did. Don't take for granted the life you were given, because so many people love you, people you haven't even met yet are waiting to fall in love with you. Rascal Flatts released this amazing song back in 2009 called "Why" and at the end of the chorus it reads "God only knows what went wrong, and why you'd leave the stage in the middle of a song." Your life is one big beautiful song. All your experiences and your personal characteristics, mixed together to make the most unique and marvelous melody. Don't leave before the song is complete, let yourself and everyone who loves you listen and sing along to your amazing soundtrack, because even when you're done listening, there's still other people jamming out to your song, even when you want it to end, let them listen.

Not everyone in life is going to be nice to you. There will be people who thrive on your pain and failures. It won't be easy, but don't let them win. Don't let them get the satisfaction from your pain, that will only make them stronger. Show them your purpose, show them that they don't have that power over you. If you don't give them that power, it's impossible for them to have it. Life is full of choices, sometimes you'll make the right ones, other times you won't. Don't hold yourself back with yesterday's mistakes and don't live life with a list of regrets. Wake up each day knowing yesterday is over, and there is absolutely nothing you can do to change that. Mistakes are the number one learning tool, take them and build a better you.

You may not be proud of who you are or where you came from. You might not see the ginormous list of accomplishments you've made thus far in life. No matter how you look at it, you've been living with a mental illness and you're still here, that's a huge victory whether you'd like to accept it or not. Please keep fighting, through sunshine and rain, I beg you to keep fighting. Don't end your song, let it ring so loudly that everyone can hear it, because you have a place on earth, and you belong here.