Weekend Reminder

I’m alive, I’ve survived, and that matters. I matter. 

When you wake up, remember this. You've survived to see a brand new day. Your life matters.

At the end of that day you thought would be the most difficult and impossible day of your life, remember this. It didn't last forever and you made it over this struggle. You'll make it through the next one. You've survived and that matters. You matter. 

Final exams, in between jobs, feeling lost or tired, no one can take away the fact that you're here and your life matters always.   

Remember these words. Keep them stored away for those moments that you need them most. 

You're alive and that matters. You've survived this and that matters. You matter. Your life matters. 

Summertime Smiles

Things are starting to heat up which means summertime and the heat that comes along with it is here. I used to have very difficult summers. The transition from living on a the schedule that comes with school to an overwhelming amount of free time used to lead to bouts of depression sometimes because I often had a lot more time t be alone with my thoughts. Being alone with your thoughts for too long leads to over-thinking things and reliving old moments which is never really the best thing to do. Sometimes I also miss sleeping in my own room and bed so although I love vacation, I miss the comfort of the safe space that is my bed.

The last two summers have been pretty good. I stayed where the air conditioning was if there was any, I surrounded myself with good people, I kept busy, and I treated myself well. Each year I learn more about myself and how to love myself better so that I can feel better and be better. I have a lot of things to keep me busy this summer. I have class and I've been working on just generally keeping myself more organized and on task so I'm looking forward to this summer.


It's very important to stay healthy in the summer so here are some helpful summer reminders:

• Drink your water! Drink lots of water. Stay hydrated please
• Don't feel bad about dropping toxic people. It's too damn hot for toxic or unhealthy relationships. Why should you stay around a rain cloud when you are destined for the sun? You are destined for the sun!!
• Keep busy as to not over-think but relax when need be. It's hot so need be comes often
• Eat seasonal produce. Summer produce is some of the most delicious all year. Cherries, apricots, peaches, watermelon, okra, mangoes, eggplant, plums, nectarines, and so much more!!
• Do the things that make you happy. Do them often, if you can. 
• If you have the time to do so, read! There is something really special about reading in the summer. I can say that about every season but summer reading brings me right back to my childhood summers and that's pretty cool.
• Most importantly, stay cool, protect yourself from the sun, and stay hydrated.

Happy (almost) Summer!

Motivation Monday

Just a reminder for anyone who reads this. You are a masterpiece. You matter. Even on your worst days, it's important to remember this. You are special. You deserve good things. You deserve to take a break when you need it. Don't be hard on yourself because you're too special to be treated badly--especially by the most important person in your life, you.

This week, don't forget how special you are. In anything you may face this week, whether it be good or bad, remember that you hold a very special place in the universe. You matter.

---

Quote of the day:

 "Stop believing the lies you’ve been told about yourself. You are not worth less than anybody else. You are not inferior or inadequate."

This week keep telling yourself how unique you are. There's no on in the world like you. Have a good week!

World Suicide Prevention Day: I'm so happy that you're alive

Today, September 10th, is World Suicide Prevention Day. The love and support and compassion shown on this day has always meant so much to me. I think this day serves as a reminder that mental illnesses are real. I think this serves as a reminder that you're not alone in what you're going through. Seeing love written on someone else's wrist reminds me that there's someone who cares and they'res someone who has possible been in the same place that I've been. There's a possibility that we'll all rise above our thoughts that trap us in the middle of the night. Today is a day to be aware and spread awareness. This day is reminder to share resources and be there for one another. Every and any ounce of your strength and hope can help another person and you can achieve that just by being yourself and being there. Listen, talk, share your experiences, spread hope. Every bit counts.

Your life matters always. You deserve to be here always. Every bit of you is important and every bit of you deserves to be here. In your pain, your stress, your sadness, depression, you matter and you deserve to be here. At 4am, 5pm, 3pm, 24/7--you matter, your life matters, and you deserve to be here! During finals week, first week of school, first day at a new job, or in between careers---your life matters and you deserve to be here! When you don't know what you want to do with your life or when you're finding that adulthood is not what you expected, remember that your life matters and you deserve to be here! Bad day, bad week, bad month, bad year--your life matters and you deserve to be here. No matter what, you matter. Your life matters and you deserve to be here!

♥

"You are a child of the universe! No less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here."

 --- 

Resources:

• suicdepreventionlifeline.org
• 1-800-273-8255 (Suicide Hotline US)
• thenicestplaceontheinter.net
• talkspace.com
• 7cupsoftea.com
• thequietplaceproject.com
• http://thequietplaceproject.com/thethoughtsroom/
• Crisis Text Line: Text “SUPPORT” to 741741
• Suicide Prevention Help Guide 
• 11 Facts About Suicide 
• International Association for Suicide Prevention
• Dealing with Suicidal Thoughts

Humanity.

There's a struggle in this country over humanity. Over who gets the right to feel human. Over who is allowed to have their humanity protected and not questioned. The struggle is getting this point across to people who do not see this because they have never had their humanity questioned. The reality is that people are literally fighting for their human rights. The point is that people are being told that their lives don't matter. That although we live in the land of the free, people are still living their lives without the satisfaction of knowing that whatever happens to them, they will be treated fairly and with justice wherever they go in this country. Nothing about it is okay and it's incredibly frustrating to know that there are people who will never understand that and no amount of words or acts of violence and discrimination, or stands for justice will ever remove them from their own ignorance of the matter.

While we fight for our rights and for ALL of society to see our humanity, I want to remind you that you are an important beautiful powerful human being. If I could, I would tell you all every day your lives matter. Your life matters. Black lives matter. Black women, your lives matter. Black men, your lives matter. Black youth, your life matters. Your experiences are valid. Your stories matter.

OUR LIVES MATTER.

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Friendly Reminder

Your life and your experiences are always valid.

Don't spend your life comparing yourself to others. While it may seem that someone else is going through a hard time, it does not mean that what you're going through isn't important. If someone is more open about what they're going through, it doesn't make your life and your experiences any less real. If someone isn't really open about what their life and their experiences, it doesn't mean that their what they feel is not real. 

We're all human. It's natural for us all to feel different things and react differently to events in life. Nothing about us is one size fits all. We're different and that's good. That's what makes us all so special. That's also why we all need to have our differences respected and in respecting other people and their differences, we have to respect that we are different and our own differences need to be respected. Be good to you. You're worth it!

We matter. Our lives matter. Look at the person next to you, behind you, in front of you--think of the next person you're going to see. They matter. Their life matters. Their experiences and lives are valid and they deserved your respect. 

You're wonderful. Have a good day.