Speak Up

Why do we do hard things? Why do we study for that final exam when there are a hundred different things we could be doing? Because your mom told you to? Because if you don't your grades will fall and you won't get into college? I mean, maybe that's why, or maybe you are scared of what will happen if you don't do those things.

And what is gonna happen? You become a failure? You miss out on college? Life is scary, and it gets pretty hard. There is no going around it, but just because something may seem hard or scary doesn't mean you avoid it.

If there is any single piece of advice that I could give someone who is going through a hard time, it would be: DON'T PUSH PEOPLE AWAY. Don't you dare do it. You were lucky enough to be placed on this planet where there are thousands of beautiful, amazing people. People who want the best for you and who would come to your aid in a heartbeat. Pushing these people away is only going to make it harder for you, and it might even hurt them.

Trust me when I say I've been there. I've spent the past seven months pushing people away. And guess what? Nothing good has come from it. I've felt lonely and sad. With each passing day I wanted to seclude myself more and more. I actually even told my mom that next year I wanted to take all online classes so I didn't have to go to school. I wanted to wake up and stay in my home where I didn't have to face the sad reality that I was still in Georgia. Luckily, my sweet mother said that I couldn't do that (I was furious haha) but she knew that the minute I didn't have to face the world, the harder it would be to get myself out of bed. She told me that secluding myself was only going to do more damage than healing. So, instead I went to my counselor and we figured out a schedule for next year with only one online class.

People need people to heal. Talking things out with someone could be the equivalent to taking actual medicine. Why do you think people have counselors? We as humans were built to be able to share emotion and have empathy. We were made to care about one another. So lets do just that. Talk to people. Open up about your darkest secrets and deepest fears. Tell your mom what you are feeling. Ask your best friend if you can go on a drive and have a conversation. Put your phone down. Listen. You'd be surprised at how much you have in common with those you see everyday.

Building up feelings and emotions is a sure way to end up sad and maybe even depressed. It's not healthy and there are so many people that are willing to listen. If you are feeling like there isn't anyone you can talk to about a problem that you are having then you aren't looking hard enough. In fact, you probably aren't looking at all, because there are so many people that care about you and are willing to listen. God didn't put us here to struggle by ourselves and don't ever forget that.

I dunno if you can quote yourself haha but that's what I'm about to do. When I first moved to Georgia I wrote a little something:

"Okay so moving might be the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life up to this point and I never thought that I would see myself where I am and I honestly can't even believe that I am here, but lemme just say something: I have been here two weeks and I thought that I was going to be starting the hardest years of my teenage life, but I can already see a little bit of why God sent me and my family here. I don't know everything but I do know that God has a reason and a purpose for everything. I never thought that I could leave my friends, family, school, and my home and ever be okay with it. But here I am 1,873.7 miles away, and guess what? I'm okay with it. And that's crazy for me to say, but I really am. And I'm actually enjoying life, and I've realized that my friends and family will still always be there for me and Utah isn't going anywhere. Yeah it's really hard sometimes and I miss my old life so so much, but I'm just gonna try to enjoy my new life and be grateful that God gave me something so precious. So basically what I am trying to say is, just take a look at the bigger picture and try to see it through His eyes. It's really hard, trust me I know, but we are so loved by so many people and life is an amazing gift. He's never going to put you through something that you can't handle, because He knows we can handle it. He knows we can do it, and I know that we can do it. So just take a deep breath, and remember that life is simply ok (:"

If you feel alone, if you feel lost, if life is becoming pointless, then it's time to make a change. It's time to let it out. Get your best friend, get your dad, get your brother or sister, get your boyfriend even, and just talk. Don't push these beautiful people away. It doesn't make you any happier I can promise you that.

Remember that it does get easier. Just ask me (;