Loved (Encouragement by Gabby L.)

This is a different piece by me. I wanted to write something… inspiring. Something different than my usual routine. (To be honest, I had this written a while ago and am just editing now, but after looking at it, I actually like it, and hope you do too!) I also wanted to write just so people heard there is hope, something so many people lack, including myself at times. But the thing about hope is that it’s always there, whether you want it to be or not. I know so many people who are hurt or damaged, they believe they are hopeless, they feel ashamed, and they don’t see the point of tomorrow. I see so many people so skinny, believing that’s what makes them pretty. I see so many people loving the darkness, believing that’s who they are. I see so many people who smile while tears glaze their eyes. I see so many people covering the lines. I see so many people who look in the mirror and dislike what they see. I see so many people, who just aren’t okay, but claim they are. I guess what makes me want to help others like that is because I was that girl who wasn’t okay. If only I had told myself three years ago what I know now, if I told younger me the incredible life I have now, the friends I have, the people I know, the joy I feel, the insecurities that are gone; would I be here? Would I be in this moment right now? Would I have found these people, these places, this life? The answer is no. If I didn’t suffer so many years ago, I wouldn’t be here typing this to you, if I felt happy and wonderful then, I wouldn’t know what to say now. Every bad thing happens for a reason, it may not seem like it now, and you don’t understand why they left, why someone did this to you, why you hate the way you look, why a loved one died; you don’t understand now, but that’s the point. Nothing good could ever blossom if darkness didn’t exist. Hardships, adversity and darkness are a part of life. We all sit here and believe it’s not getting better, we’re stuck here forever, we have no way out. But I swear to you, there is a way out, everything ends, and something new will always begin. If I could make it through, so can you. Positivity ALWAYS outweighs negativity, and when you think you’re alone, you never are. When you think it’s the end, it never is. The road may be dark, but there is light ahead. I promise you with everything in me, it will get better, time is patient, meaning you have to be too. You are loved more than you will ever know by someone you may not even know cares about you. You are so much prettier than you think. You are so much smarter than you say. You are amazing. It may take you a while to realize this, but it’s so true. Stay strong, and remember, you are loved more than you will ever know by someone who died to know you. You are loved. I promise.