#textpostnation

It is okay, even necessary to a degree, to have fun and forget about the scars, past, present and healing, and future. Regardless, skipping today’s, last night’s, next week’s pills is nothing but foolish and possibly detrimental. I don’t care if you are too busy, too lazy, or simply having a good day and don’t feel it necessary. You can’t tell them not to self medicate if you too are playing dishonest physician. Don’t mistreat your body {or mind}.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with putting yourself first. End of Story. (I even put this as the first one to further emphasize this point.)

Don’t be afraid to speak what’s really on your mind. Nine times out of ten there’s nothing to lose, except maybe a smidgen of your dignity, and you’ll feel so much better about it if you just get your thoughts out there.

Regardless of what your virgin lips may think, with whom and when your first kiss occurs is one of the least important things there is in life.

Everyone around you has their own struggles, however big or small. Be Kind. Go out of your way to love on people when they’re not expecting it, or even when they are. There is no such thing as too much kindness, so by all means, go all out.

Friendship is the most essential and wonderful thing this life has to offer. Befriend those who will bring you up, and occasionally those that solely need bringing up themselves. Spoil yourself with positivity and friendship if you are so blessed. Soak it in all you can. Friends are the 8th wonder of the world. Don’t let the good ones slip through your fingers.

Education is imperative. Getting the best grades you can and being involved in extracurriculars is important, but be wary of spreading yourself too thin. As soon as school (or sports, etc) interferes with your mental, emotional, and/or physical health, changes need to be made. See #1.

Everyone has a right to their own opinion…until that opinion conflicts with basic human rights and the humanity of real life, living, breathing human beings. I’ll stand up for equality on all fronts until I die and, you can fight me on this, I genuinely do not believe those against it in any way have a sound argument or a true right to their belief.

If you’re straying from the crowd, you’re going to be met with backlash. Some people are actually concerned as to why someone could have an opposing opinion or belief to that of the crowd or their own, and others are just straight up assholes. You’ll have to learn to deal with both types, though the latter will typically do with a choice word or two thrown back at them for their troubles if you aren’t in the mood to sit down and educate. Stray from the crowd anyways.

When you find something you love, don’t be afraid to love it wholeheartedly, whether it be an idea, book series, tv show, or otherwise.Who cares what they think. Rep the T-shirt at school. Force your friend to marathon the entire series in a weekend with you so you’ll finally have someone to talk about it with. Never be ashamed of what you love.

Don’t be afraid of emotion. Happiness is not a be-all, end-all. You’re not supposed to be happy all of the time. It’s genuinely okay not to be okay sometimes. To let yourself live fully is to be free to feel the full spectrum of emotions. Don’t punish yourself whenever you’re not happy, but at the same time be able to recognize if and when that negative emotion has turned into something more long-term and don’t let it fester. There WILL be good days, wonderful, serendipitous ones, and there will also be bad ones, maybe even horrible, wretched, I-cannot-wait-for-this-to-end ones. No matter how incredible or seemingly detrimental the magnitude of the current day, I can assure you THE SUN WILL COME UP TOMORROW. Tomorrow may not come for quite sometime, but don’t give up, because it’s on it’s way. I promise.

It takes courage, but asking loved ones for help is most always a worthwhile option and a pathway out involving metaphorical (or literal, if you’re into that) hand-holding and kind words

This is cliche, but laughter truly the best medicine. Well, that, candy cane green tea, and a good book or movie. If you’re sad (or if you’re not!) “Treat yo self!” Pamper yourself. Be your own best friend. Me-time is so important. Use it to think, read, listen to music, write, just sit and stare for all I care, just do it.

Don’t pretend to like something (or someone) just because other people do. There is literally no point at all.

Appreciate art. Intelligence is attractive. To be cultured is not just for cheese! Read all the books you can get your hands on. Watch all the movies you’re recommended. Go to museums and theaters, local performances and large-scale. Talk about real life issues with your friends. Be interested in the world around you. You’re a part of this world too!

Don’t take yourself (or life) too seriously. Make ridiculous jokes whenever possible. Pick out clothes based solely on the spin factor of the skirt. Laugh at yourself when you trip. Sing Avril Lavigne at the top of your lungs in your car with your best friends. Have FUN!

It doesn’t matter if you are not skilled or talented in any conventional sense. Everyone has strengths, no matter how small, and they’re all important. Talent and skill doesn’t just come in sport or art, as many of us believe for most of our young lives. You can be a beautiful poet or a genius computer programmer or someone with a particular knack for picking up on hidden human emotions. Little things are important to recognize too, like maybe you excel at remembering all of your family and friends’ birthdays, or you are great at guessing the end of movies or perhaps you are the best at shaping eyebrows in all of your civics class and that’s a really cool thing too. Every single person on this planet is good at something, probably lots of somethings, they just may not all be particularly useful in daily life or ones that everyone else is good at but hey! diversity!

(Romantic) Relationships aren’t for everyone, especially when it comes to high school. Don’t feel stupid for never having been in one. Very few are worth all the drama and tears they oftentimes result in anyways at this age. Be okay in your singleness. You’re going to have to be okay in yourself as a person before you can have a (healthy) relationship anyways, so you might as well start now.

They'll all tell you monsters don't exist.

But what are they going to say when your friend comes home from a weekend away with her boyfriend covered in bruises?

What will be to blame when the next person to jump off the local bridge isn't just a tragic statistic, but someone that works with you?

What about the girl whose rapist was her first kiss?

And how will they explain your classmates' scabbed over wrists who hide razorblades in their bathroom cupboards?

Are they really going to keep saying there's nothing to be saved from when your roommate never returns from Christmas Break, all because her parents found out who she loved and cut her off?

They'll all tell you monsters don't exist--