#youarestillhere

i don't want you to kill yourself

all day

but what i want doesn't matter

every time

you drag your tired body back from the brink

you show yourself

that you are strong

strong enough to come back from the edge of it all

no matter how many times you walk by it

i can't give you a reason but you can

just know i want you to stay

even when you don't want to

What I wish I would have said to my suicidal client this morning but instead I am crying in my car.

1. Never. Expect. Anything.

Life is unpredictable, and change can actually be a good thing.

2. You’re an individual who is never alone.

This planet consists of 2 sexes of the human species, 12 zodiac signs, 16 different personalities types, 196 countries, about 4,200 religions, around 6,500 spoken languages, over 7 billion people, and a million, kajillion, bazooka zooka-illion stories to tell. You’re bound to find someone who understands you.

3. Keep good company.

Real friends are hard to find, and the most meaningful relationships will happen with those who truly care about you. Birds of a feather flock together.

4. Be a good person.

Have strong morals and values, and try to practice what you preach. Remember: treat others how you want to be treated.

5. Home is where the heart is.

You’ll always be a rolling stone discovering new paths and looking for different adventures.

6. Plan for the future, but live in the now.

The present is a present: cherish it with every breath, and appreciate every second that time has given you.

7. Open the black box.

Let go, pop your bubble, and go outside your comfort zone to become a more insightful person.

8. Experience all that you can.

It's the meaning of life, don't cha know?

9. Take advantage of every moment of happiness.

If only for a second, you are who you are and it feels amazing.

10. Speak up.

Both your opinion and your voice matters. You exist.

11. Stop over analyzing.

Step back and look at the bigger picture. Come to accept that things will happen when they happen and thinking is totally overrated. Wait. Or is it? Let's ponder this for a second...

12. Cheese is a food group.

And so is alcohol.

13. Don't ever "grow up".

Sustaining your innocence, curiosity, and hunger to learn is what really keeps you young and ambitious. Somewhat foolish? Perhaps. But then again, who isn't?

14. If perfect is perfection then this world would be square.

In other words, being perfect makes you an L7 weenie.

15. Always listen to your body.

It knows what it needs.

16. Always listen to your head.

It gives great advice.

17. Always listen to your heart.

It's what makes life worth living for.

18. Be accepting and open to all POVs.

It takes a lot of courage to stand up for what someone believes in. Plus, it's a great way to study these interesting specimens.

19. Balance is what makes the world go round.

Right vs Left. Good vs Bad. Yes vs No. Work vs Play. Love vs Hate. Black vs White. Fact vs Fiction. And so on, and so on.

20. History is a teacher worth listening to.

Mistakes happen and it's best to learn from them instead of letting the world burn.

21. Change the world.

For the better, of course.

22. The glass is most likely half full.

And made with the lemons that you’ve turned into lemonade.

23. We are all made of stars.

Humans really are amazing, complex creatures. We have the ability to communicate emotionally, experience pleasure, and make our dreams a reality. We are a united entity just trying to find our place in the sky. We live, breathe, and die as one.

24. There are no roads.

Or paths. Or flying DeLoreans. It's just you and the choices that you decide to make.

25. Slow down.

It doesn't matter what pace science, technology, medicine, or social media moves at. You are not a robot, you can think for yourself. At your own pace.

26. Keep moving forward.

Even in the darkest of times, know that things do get better. In the words of George Michael, "I've got to have faith, baby."

27. We are all sensitive to bullshit.

In fact, some of us might even be allergic to it. Scratch. Scratch.

28. Politely put in your coins and then leave the situation.