Breathe

You are not made for this. You were not designed for this. You are bigger than this. Smile. Think. Breathe. 

I tell this to myself everyday. I have to tell myself this because often I forget how to be happy. But I figured out that if I fake a smile, it comes naturally. You're probably thinking that you've heard that a million times. So have I. But, sometimes, I find that you don't really process until you've heard it a few times. 

A smile a day, can keep the pain of everything away. It doesn't matter what's going on in your life. Your situation is never going to be good. Especially after the first disappointment. What doesn't kill you doesn't make you stronger automatically. It's only if you allow yourself to be stronger. You don't have to bleed to know you're alive, but a bruise here and there is good. 

People will try to tell you that you're not good enough. That failure is your only option. That amounting to anything, isn't an option for you. And other people will tell you that your best isn't your best. And that if it's your best, that they don't have faith in you anymore. And maybe your best isn't good enough. Maybe they're right. Who needs them. Work until your get it, and then do whatever it you want to do, and then destroy their expectations. 

My friend, ATL, told me that I'm not going to achieve my dreams. It hurt. I cried. My friend, CMCT, told me that sometimes we have to say screw you to our friends. And this particular friend is part of the reason I got out of bed in the morning. They're one of my best friends. But, while we have to kill the weeds (The not-your-friend doubters), sometimes you have to pull out the dead flowers. No matter how much you love them.

I've learned from CMCT, that success is 100% passion, and 100% hard work, and 800% you. 

Surround yourself with people that we support you, but love you enough to tell you the truth. And be vigil about that. We can mistake hurt feelings for a dead flower, when it's really just a flower  that needs some water and paid attention to.