Dear Me,
I know that things are rough and sometimes you feel all alone. I know that sometimes you feel like there’s nobody around to talk to and that sometimes it’s hard to grasp just how you feel. Sometimes you just want to cry. Yet you put on a fake smile and brave the day. When people ask how you are doing, you smile and tell them you’re OK. But are you really?
You see, something you might not realize is that it’s OK not to be OK. It’s OK to have those rough days. Life is going to throw you curves but it’s not to break you; it’s to make you stronger. No matter what’s thrown your way, you are strong enough to handle it. You got this.
Stop getting in your own head and overthinking everything. Life is supposed to be fun—a learning experience. Not a stressful mess. The people around you might not understand exactly how you feel, but they are there for you and they do care. Don’t push them away because you want to come across as strong. Your problems might seem minimal. They might seem like something to brush under the rug, but avoiding them isn’t going to make you feel any better. Stop trying to act strong on the exterior when you are shattering into a million pieces on the inside. Just stop.
Let yourself cry, because holding those tears in won’t help you at all. But remember it isn’t the end of the world. You aren’t broken. You aren’t alone and you can do this. Tomorrow is another day and you get to start it with a clean slate. It’s OK to not be OK.
I promise that when it feels like the world is crashing down around you, there is going to be a light at the end of the tunnel. You might cry by yourself many nights. You might feel like you are annoying your friends every time you go to them. But it’s all OK. The truth is that sometimes you’re going to fall before you can fly. You’re going to hit rock bottom before you climb that mountain. That’s part of life.
Nothing will be perfect. Perfection is merely an image that doesn’t always exist. But do you know what’s not OK? Hurting yourself. Feeling like you aren’t good enough. Not believing in yourself. The twists and turns that come your way: that’s a normal part of life. You’re going to have your heart broken, and you’re going to feel like you’re all alone. You’re going to face the big world around you and sometimes it’s going to suck. You’re going to want to build a wall so high that you don’t let anyone in. Again, you're resorting to the fake smile and “I’m OK,” but the truth is you’re not OK and that’s alright.
Sometimes you have to feel worse to feel better. Sometimes it will seem as though the entire world is against you, but it’s not. You might feel abandoned, hopeless and alone, but you aren’t. Just because you are having a bad day doesn’t mean it’s the end.
Pick up your head and remind yourself that you don’t have to be OK all the time. Things will get better. Just give it time.
Love,
Me
