A few years ago, one of my grandmothers made me a journal. On the last page, she wrote some advice and words of encouragement. I always take a look at it when I'm having a bad day, and I'd like to share it with y'all. This is what she said: The story is never finished until you decide it is the last one you will tell. Shout loudly and long! Never let anyone silence your voice, your feelings, your spirit, your hopes and dreams. Not even you. When you set a boundary, mean it. Respect yourself enough to say no to people trying to control and blame you for things that are not your fault. Be humble enough to admit your mistakes and apologise for them, to own your actions that cause someone harm. Teach your tongue to say "I do not know." Then find out, ask, and learn. You are not always right,but you can always learn another viewpoint, another fact, another method. Never be ashamed to feel deeply, to show emotion, to tell someone you care about that you care. Tomorrow may never come, so do these things now. Enjoy /this/ moment, and /this/ one and /this/ one too. Each moment is an entire lifetime to savor. Both good and bad moments come at the same speed. It is merely our perception that makes one seem longer than the other. It takes the same amount of energy to be happy or sad. Choose which of these moments to spend your time on. Be ok with not knowing, with uncertainty. When you realise it is OK not to know what is going to happen, you can relax and let things flow and be OK with the good or the bad. Do not judge yourself for being sad, happy, angry, etc. You feel what you feel for as long as you feel it.When you stop saying "I should," "if only I had," "I can't do," and other things and just sit there knowing it's ok to feel and think, you start to be kind to yourself, have compassion for yourself, and to be at peace with yourself and others. Remember always that love is the most important thing in the entire world. Love yourself first. Everything else falls into place after that.
I certainly can't take credit for the advice my grandmother wrote. That's hers. Anyway, I hope you're doing alright. Go drink some water, take a break if you need to, get some fresh air. Most importantly, take care of yourself kiddo :]
