Not to be like “we live in a society” but I think a lot of people’s mental health would be significantly less fucked if they didn’t have to function in a system that forces them to think about their value as a human being as based on how productive they are/how much money people can make off them
“I know you come home with the same worry that clouds your mind every night. I know you are aching, and breaking, trying to hold onto the little hope that remains. I know you’re lost and confused, the doubt flooding your veins. But my darling, you weren’t born to be sure. You weren’t born to have it all figured out. You weren’t born to fit a mould. You were born to explore, to seek and to find. You are here to love, to hurt, to heal, not to be confined. You are here to create your own life, to not conform to a timeline. You are here to be 18, and dancing under the moonlight, drunk on cheap wine. You are here to be 25, to climb mountains and to swim oceans. You are here to be 40, to wake up rich in love, and be comforted by this through the everyday commotion. And you are here to be 60, to tell your story of a wild life lived. You are here for so much more than a job, a relationship or a degree. You are here to appreciate the wonders of the world and to make memories. You cannot tell me that age is important when the atoms that made you have taken billions of years to form you. So, to Hell with anyone who restricts you with their timelines. You are here, breathe in, and breathe out. You will figure it out and you will be fine.”
— a reminder to my 18 year old self, and anyone else who is lost and unsure.
i wonder where we learn it. today my student asked me how much i’d pay for a lunch.
i joked, “i have no money”.
he looked at me and said, “i have 10 dollars in coins i collected over the last year.”
i said, “that’s a lot! you must have done a lot of collecting.”
he said, “if you don’t have money, you can have half of it.”
i said, “you worked hard for it, it belongs to you.”
and this second grade boy. eagle eyed. does excellent drawings. looks at me and says, “it doesn’t mean anything if i know my friends don’t have anything when i do.”
i wonder where we learn it, is all.
i went home and made a donation. it’s not much. it’s not half. i can’t afford that; it all goes to student loans and gasoline.
You would be surprised with how many people in your life could be going through depression at this very moment. People hide it like a paper bag over their heads out of fear of being judged, made fun of, seen as weak, or just not taken seriously. Depression should not be taken lightly, it holds us down from our purpose and potential in life. Those who tell you that it doesn’t exist have never experienced depression in their life, therefore not understanding the symptoms and how it’s something that cannot be fixed in a day! So if you think you are depressed or if you think you know someone else who is, please talk to a friend, a family member, or anyone else in your life that you trust - never overlook the possibility of seeing a doctor for more professional help!! Your feelings are real, your feelings are shared upon millions. Don’t hide it, talk to someone about it. With the right help, you can rediscover your confidence and begin life anew with our undying love and support!
have 3 achievable goals a day: having a laundry list of things to do everyday is super unrealistic, and you just end up feeling bad about yourself because you didn’t accomplish your goals for the day.
leave your sundays open: i love sundays because they’re my day to chill out and catch up on school work that i wasn’t able to finish during the week.
recognize when you’re at your emotional limits:forcing yourself to get work done when you are unable to comprehend your study material does not benefit anyone.
learn how to say no: people will ask you for your time and it will stretch you to the limit, whether it be at your job, in your extracurriculars, or in your personal life. know when to step back and say no.
take care of yourself physically: take breaks, go for walks, shower regularly, get enough sleep, eat healthy, see your friends
celebrate your accomplishments: go out to eat with friends after a big exam, indulge in a night off after a busy week with some netflix and wine
make a study plan beforehand:it can be daunting to see how much work you need to put in to a class or task beforehand, but this allows you to spread your work evenly so you don’t become overwhelmed.
learn how to ask for help: it is very rare that people make it through school, whether it be high school or university or any graduate program, without needing the advice of others or just a kind soul to vent to. find that person.
never forget your hobbies: you will need things that keep you sane. if you love to play music, write, play volleyball, or cook, make you sure you don’t lose these things. they will become your escape when times get tough.
log off from time to time:it is exhausting to be constantly connected to social media and your email. just physically disconnecting from these for a night to take care of yourself can really help you clear your mind.
