#papyrus mail

YOUR LIFE IS NOT GOING NOWHERE! YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING YET!

THINGS ARE ALWAYS CHANGING! NEW THINGS ARE ALWAYS HAPPENING! YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU WILL WAKE UP TO ONE DAY! AND YOU HAVE SO MANY DAYS AHEAD OF YOU!!

HERE ARE SOME THINGS TO REMEMBER!

YOU ARE NOT HERE TO BE USEFUL! YOU ARE HERE... TO BE! YOU ARE WORTHWHILE JUST FROM BEING YOU!

ACCEPT ANY AND ALL REASSURANCES THAT OTHERS THINK WELL OF YOU! EVERY SMILE! EVERY CALL AND TEXT! EVERY TIME SOMEONE THINKS OF YOU! DON'T JUST LOOK FOR PROOF THAT YOUR FEELINGS ARE RIGHT! LOOK FOR PROOF THAT THEY ARE WRONG!

I AM GOING TO TELL YOU A BIG SECRET...

THERE IS NO 'DESERVING' OR 'NOT DESERVING' LOVE! IF WE SAT AROUND TRYING TO CALCULATE WHETHER SOMEONE DESERVED TO BE LOVED, WE WOULD BE THERE FOREVER! AND WHO WANTS TO DO IMPOSSIBLE MATH FOREVER??

YOU DON'T 'EARN' LOVE, FRIEND! YOU SIMPLY HAVE IT! YOU ARE LOVED!! I PROMISE!! AND YOU SHOULD BE, BECAUSE YOU ARE A PERSON! YOU ARE WORTH LOVING!!!

THIS IS MY FAVORITE SUBJECT!!

START SMALL! HOLD DOORS! HAND OUT COMPLIMENTS! LISTEN CAREFULLY TO WHAT SOMEONE IS TRYING TO TELL YOU! DO SOMEONE A LITTLE FAVOR! MAKE THINGS MORE CONVENIENT FOR THEM!

KINDNESS IS ACTION!! YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS DON'T MAKE YOU KIND OR UNKIND! YOU COULD BE INTERNALLY FUMING AND STILL DO SOMETHING NICE, AND THAT WOULD BE KIND! IT'S ABOUT WHAT YOU DO!! SO IT TAKES PRACTICE TO GET STRONGER AND BETTER AT DOING IT!

Lately I’ve actually been wearing pretty interesting clothing ( as apposse to hoodies and sweaters ) and I feel good about myself, but when my ma or grandparents say anything about it I feel embarrassed because I know it’s gonna somehow turn onto a side complement about “oh hahah you actually look good today”

I know it’s a joke but it still… hurts? It’s weird.

I guess it feels like the only way to be seen is to wear something interesting, but that turns into some kinda backhand comment that makes me feel bad about myself.

Sorry, this went on for a while. I’m kinda just venting now haha.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that I don’t feel seen. Not in a way I like. I don’t know how to handle that though. How do you handle that?

- haft wake teen

YOU DON'T LIKE THOSE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT COMPLIMENTS!!! INSULTING PEOPLE IN JEST ONLY WORKS IF IT IS MUTUALLY UNDERSTOOD AND ENJOYED! OTHERWISE IT'S JUST AN INSULT!

ONE THING YOU CAN DO IS ASK FOR COMPLIMENTS FROM PEOPLE YOU TRUST MORE! FRIENDS AND SUCH! PEOPLE MORE LIKELY TO JUST SAY, "YES, YOU LOOK SHARP TODAY!!"

MORE IMPORTANTLY, IF YOU CAN, THEN I SUGGEST BEING BLUNT TO YOUR FAMILY ABOUT WHAT THEY SAY! WHEN THEY SAY IT! LIKE... "DON'T BE LIKE THAT! EITHER COMPLIMENT ME OR DON'T!" OR "I AM TRYING TO BE FASHIONABLE, AND YOU ACTING SNIDE IS NOT HELPING!" MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE JOKE DOES NOT LAND AND THEY ARE BEING WEIRD ABOUT IT!

WHEN THEY LEARN TO CUT THAT OUT, THEY MAY START ENGAGING WITH YOU IN EARNEST! IF THEY EVER DO RESPOND SO THAT YOU FEEL SEEN IN A NICE WAY... THANK THEM!

Because people make no sense to me. And I get annoyed at them so easily. And that hurts their feelings? It didn't even occur to me that snapping at them would hurt them until it was pointed out to me and now I'm terrified I'm going to end up pushing everyone away until I don't have anyone. Until I'm alone like I deserve to be.

FRIEND, YOU CANNOT EXPECT PATIENCE FROM YOUR FRIENDS AND NOT BE PATIENT WITH THEM IN RETURN! FRIENDSHIPS TAKE WORK!

IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU WANT TO BE VALUED AND WANT THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU TO LIKE YOU! WELL, EVERYONE ELSE FEELS THE SAME WAY! TREAT YOUR FRIENDS AS GENTLY AS YOU WANT YOUR OWN FEELINGS TO BE HANDLED! FOR SOME PEOPLE, THAT TAKES MORE ATTENTION AND EFFORT THAN IT DOES FOR OTHERS! IT MAY NOT COME AS NATURALLY! BUT IT MUST BE DONE! NOT FOR THE SAKE OF NOT BEING ALONE, BUT FOR THE CARE OF THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU!