the problem.

life sucks.

sorry; i don't claim to be an optimist.
(i claim to be a pessimist. a happy one.)

but really.
life sucks.
it's hard.
it's lonely...

...you're not: 

• good
• strong
• thin
• funny
• outgoing
• happy
• rich
• attractive
• opinionated
• passionate
• brave
• sporty
• motivated
• intelligent
• social 
• and on and on and on and on.

enough.
right?
that's the problem.

wrong. 
so incredibly wrong.

why does the world get to decide what is adequate and even desirable?
imagine we were all the same. same likes, dislikes, clothes, hair, talents etc...
how dull would that be!?

life sucks, that is a valid evaluation. there's always going to be someone telling you that you are inadequate, or that you should change... if even just a little.  you're never going to please everyone. 

that is okay.

so. i'm a firm believer that: every problem has a solution, some just take a little longer to find.

what, then, is the solution to this particular problem?

i one hundred percent believe that people need to learn to love themselves before they can truly allow other people love them.

high school was rough (rough is an understatement!) for me.  

i was surrounded by robots droning through life, pretending to be happy, emanating fake rays of perfection, and man, were they ever convincing!
i didn't realize it at the time, but in a very round about way, i was being bullied by the very kids who tried to look like anti bullying, be nice to every one, never make a mistake activists.
barf.

look. i'm not going to tell you that i've found the key to contentness. i have not.

however.

please get to know yourself.

i promise that you are a person worth getting to know. now, of course not everyone is going to agree with that. but if you can be happy with yourself, everyone's opinions start to matter a whole lot less. because why would you let other people stop you from strengthening yourself? that's exactly what they want!

misery loves company.

don't you dare give them that satisfaction.

• take yourself on a date.
• schedule regular 'you time'.
• make a bucket list.
• write a poem.
• start a blog.
• take a random class that interests you, just for fun.
• let go of the things that are only bringing you down.
• learn to recognize sincerity and realness.
• bake something delicious. 
• read a book! i'm all about vicarious living!
• spend hours searching for a song that describes you perfectly.
• take genuine interest in other people's quirks.
• skip school.
• do something spontaneous!
• buy a shirt/pants/apairofshoes/jewelry that makes you feel like a rock star. sometimes the splurge is worth it.
• do something nice for someone, expect nothing in return.

guys! you dont need someone to come and save you.
save yourself!
stop waiting around for people to make you happy, because they probably won't.
you're not perfect, and no one else is either. 
forget the popular opinions of what is socially acceptable, or cool.
no one can decide what is good or beautiful but you.
it's a personal opinion... so form one.
i dare you.
people might hate you for it....their loss.

you do not need other people's approval in order to be validated.

i love each of you.
that is all. 
enjoy your day :)