Today I woke up different.

I realized that I truly am beautiful, strong, intelligent, and brave. No matter what my brain tries to tell me.

I realized that I won't always feel this way, and it's not abnormal, but I should take advantage of the times when I do.

I also realized that, to feel this way, I must feel it on my own. I don't need to depend on the validation of others. I don't need people to tell me these things about myself in order for them to be true.

No one owes me anything. Every single thing I do is a choice. I should do good things for others always, even if I don't expect any good in return. Why? Because it's just the right thing to do. The world needs more of it. So I must do it.

I also realized that sometimes the people closest to you are the ones who hurt you the most--because they have the power to. We give them the power too. And that isn't our fault. Trust people until they give you a reason not to. We can't live life never trusting anyone at all. For we would never actually live.

Loyalty is a lifestyle, and when someone's loyalty shifts based on opportunity, cut them off. It says so much more about their character than yours. Unfortunately some people care so much more about themselves and what will benefit them than the people getting hurt in the process of that. I understand what that feels like now. I will continuously ensure that my loyalty is unbreakable to the people who deserve it.

I realized that I'm tired of wondering who is with me and who is against me, and I don't have time for the people in between. If you're with me, great, if not, hit the road. It isn't my job to make sure everyone likes me all the time and to please the people who don't care about me.

I also realized that I am so incredibly grateful for the friends and family members I have who I know I can count on. I'm so lucky and blessed to have best friends, cousins, parents, grandparents, and siblings who would do anything for me--who have my back unconditionally.

Today I woke up different, and it wasn't because of a man, a new job, or any type of new thing in my life. It was because last night I learned a lesson. And instead of sitting around and feeling sorry for myself, I decided to do something about it.