Hi friends,

I’ve been doing some thinking lately (naturally), and I just want to share some love. Life, of course, has it’s cycles. Sometimes you have highs; sometimes you have lows. I spent the last few years with the unrealistic expectation that life was inherently supposed to be going smoothly and that when a curveball came at me, it was an obstacle messing with my perfect life. Why couldn’t things just be perfect all of the time? They’re supposed to be perfect.

Oh, sweet, naive, innocent child.

Life needs to be embraced in its fullest. Life can be what you make it, but just because you react to something in a positive way or negative way doesn’t change the fact that bad things are inevitably going to happen along with the good things. So, when something bad happens, don’t roll up in bed or go cry in a corner. Emotions are good, and I’m not saying to stifle them, but don’t let a bad situation engulf your entire life.

If you’re old enough to read this, you’ve already overcome things. Whether you had someone you love pass away, parted ways with a friend, moved homes, felt the sting of heartbreak, etc., you have felt pain, and you have survived. It doesn’t matter how close you felt to losing all purpose, you’re still here, and you’re stronger…because of you. Because YOU held on, because YOU fought through it all just to keep breathing, because YOU knew your strength even if it was just at a subconscious level.

Life is going to continue to throw things at you, and you’re going to continue to wish it wouldn’t have. I’m not even remotely about to throw you the line, “but you’re better because of it”…because, let’s be real here, you probably would’ve been just fine without your pet hamster dying or without your best friend hooking up with your ex. I’m not one to thank life for hitting me with hard times, but I am one to be proud of myself for getting through them.

So, give some credit where it’s due. YOU deserve a pat on the back because even if you currently feel like you’re drowning in a difficult situation, you’re still here. You’re still alive, you’re still fighting, you’re still moving through the days, telling the world that you are unbreakable, telling the world that despite what it has done to you, YOU are still standing, YOU are still trying, YOU are still going to get through this.

Always remember, you’ve conquered so much already; even if you felt like you haven’t. And that is something to be proud of.