I am so grateful for this website. Talking to people on here and reading the articles has helped me through bumps in the road and straight up awful falls into pits of misery. I see a lot of posts on here to try to respond to individually, but I can never get the words out or find what I think is the right thing to say, so here’s some things I’ve learned while trying to walk upright in this world that feels like it has an emotional earthquake for me every day.

1. Have courage. Courage is not at all like I imagined it. I understand why it was so impossible to see myself as a courageous person. I didn’t feel the way characters in books and movies made me feel when they were being courageous. That’s because it wasn’t my courage. Courage in others stirs the heart. Courage in yourself is simply a will not to give up. It doesn’t feel like anything. You can still be angry, bitter, afraid, and by turns, centered, peaceful, and accepting. And that’s all okay. Courage is just dealing with the present moment and not letting the unpleasantness of it chase you away. And other people who see that will feel emboldened by you. Which feels pretty great.

2. Let yourself feel. As important as it is to keep moving, the sadness is part of life. When I forget that, when I think the sadness is some anomaly getting in the way of my happiness, I feel like I want to die. But the tears, the fear and uncertainty, it’s all part of it. Just not the only part. I forget that when I’m in the middle of it. I forget that all my progress does not mean I shouldn’t be feeling sad or there’s something wrong with me for feeling that way. Sometimes it’ll happen. I shouldn’t try to fight it so much, as if it’s really setting me back. It isn’t. Breaking down into sobs isn’t weird or weak or strange. You’re hurting from something. And life is difficult.

3. Be grateful. Show gratitude. I don’t have much to give in the way of wisdom and experience, but I’m here same as anyone, so what little I have, what I’ve found to be helpful, I’m sharing.

I’ll post more as I come up with them. I hope these are helpful to someone. Bless.