不要留下我

2.  Dying isn’t all that bad.  Don’t fear it; be able to stare it straight in the eyes, but don’t let it take you, not until you have to go.  There’s so much more that you’ve yet to experience.

3.  You’re never alone.  You’ve got yourself, let that be enough.

4.  You carry everyone you love with you all the time, that’s enough.  Don’t carry the weight of their emotions too.  It’ll hurt you and that hurt is practically unbearable.

5.  Try your best but don’t kill yourself doing that.

6.  Don’t set yourself on fire to keep others warm.

7.  Say meaningful things when you talk, but also say nonsensical things.  Sometimes that gives you good ideas.

8.  It’s good to feel.  Even hurt.  Keep doing it, it hurts more not to.

9.  It’s okay to think you’ve got all the answers.  I did once too.  It’s not okay to think they’re all right though.

10.  Don’t let yourself get stepped on.  From the start, just don’t take any shit.

11.  It feels like the end of the world, because it is.  But I swear if you just inch a little further you’ll reach the beginning of the universe.  From there you can go anywhere really.

12.  Take your time growing up.  You can always grow faster but when you do, you can’t go back.

13.  Not many people will have the ability to motivate you.  You’ve got to do most of that by yourself.  Get curious and creative with it.

14.  Explanation kills art, but sometimes it is in itself art.

15.  You were born with this body, but that doesn’t necessarily mean this is who you are or that you are romantically in love with whom most members of society generally are.  That’s okay.  And if you’re exactly what is “expected of you” by society that’s okay too.

16.  There’s grey in everything that’s black and white.  Find it.

17.  Come to me.  Always.  Never debate it.  Whether it’s to tell me a joke, because you had a nightmare, or because your first love broke your heart, come.  If I’m tired and in a bad mood, remind me of this.

18.  Be self-aware.  Know when you’re not okay and you’ve pushed too hard.  Take a step back.  If you can push further, go, just don’t hurt yourself.

19.  It’s okay if you step on the cracks in the sidewalk.  In fact, I encourage you to.  On a particularly bad day it could cheer you up, you never know.

20.  Know when to listen to fear and when to ignore it.  That’ll help you live life to the full.

21.  Be mindful.

22.  Express yourself in every way you can.  Let everything out, even if it looks or sounds or feels awful.

23.  Appreciate who you are for all that you are.

24.  It’s okay to look back, but don’t let what it beholds hurt you.

–– 24 things I’ll tell my children (because I needed them)