Be honest with yourself and be kind to yourself. Remember to practice self-love once in awhile! 💙

While yesterday was Suicide Prevention Day, let's take a moment to remember that every day you should try to reach out to those you love. Even on your worst days with someone, make sure to always remind them how much they matter to you. You never know what could happen or how much someone hurts. I want to take a page from Chio and share my story too. I grew up as the youngest sibling in my house, one that was constantly forgotten and not given the love or opportunities a child should. I remember never having a Christmas or a Birthday. I remember watching my mother go through multiple marriages and wondering who all the strange men she'd bring home were, only to be told I should respect them as my new father. Not love, respect and obey them. I remember the wounds. The bruises. The knife entering when I was reminded my life meant nothing to that monster. A monster who I remember the day she passed, I didn't know how to feel. I thought that I was in the wrong for feeling relief, rather than sadness. My friends became my family. But as I grew older and found many of those people I tried to have in my life were only using or manipulating me, it made me reach a dead end. To be told you're appreciated for your talents, not your friendship. To be used for hosting games, creating things, working hard for them, but never actually given the love back or being heard when I needed someone. Or worst off, when trying to find who I really was and wanted to be, people who said they had my best interest only told me what THEY wanted me to be, rather than encouraging my own desires. I eventually broke, and over three years ago I thought about giving up, and drove into traffic. The only thing stopping me being the thought of hurting another and making THEIR life bad by colliding being what stopped me. When trying to take control of my life by ending it, I stopped for someone else. A bitter irony. But one that reminded me just how much I always listen to others and not myself. I'm thankful though I let that stop me. I wanted control of my future. I wanted to make decisions for myself. I wanted to stop pleasing everyone while giving up my own time, work, money, and well-being. It's been over three years, and this is only a few pages of my story. But as I continue to remind myself that I have control of my future, and I should cherish myself more, be kind, and love who I am and want to be, I've found happiness. I've found friends. I've found safety. I found hobbies to enjoy. I found who I want to be. I've found a career. Never give up on yourself. Just when you think you've lost everything, you still have your future. And please, be kind to yourself. Remember the life you have is yours to control.