There are certain reasons that are clear to me for why I cannot ever leave. One of the main and most important reasons are because of my friends. They keep me hopeful and motivated when I don’t feel that way. They make me feel like I am really living and they make me feel better on days when I feel like I have to drag myself by a chain in order to get through it all. I adore my friends so much and I would do anything for them. They all deserve the world and I know I can’t give that to them but I can at least try.

I haven’t had a good birthday in years, until today. Today was a good day because of them. I will never deserve all these lovely people but they still somehow are always there when I need them and I can’t express how grateful I am for that.

I am eighteen now so I guess I should make one of those “18 things I learned by 18”

So here goes:

1. You don’t need to talk to people every single day in order to be friends.

2. You don’t need to tell everyone everything and you aren’t obligated to, you can keep things to yourself.

3. No one cares what you are doing so do what you want to, and if they do care then that is their problem, not yours.

4. You can find comfort in some of the most surprising places and from the most surprising people.

5. Feeling things doesn’t make you weak, feeling like you have to keep everything inside for fear of the reaction of others is what makes you weak.

6. People are in your life to teach you lessons so be willing to learn.

7. Your past does not define who you are now.

8. Just because bad things happen, doesn’t mean you should feel ashamed or upset for it.

9. Every single person has the potential to be good and evil.

10. Sometimes your good intentions are misinterpreted and that is okay because the only validation you need should come from yourself.

11. The only validation you need is your own.

12. It’s okay to admit that you have a problem.

13. There are much better ways to handle situations in which you feel nothing than using bad habits.

14. It is okay to love those around you more than yourself, as long as it keeps you alive it shouldn’t be considered a problem.

15. Not everyone understands and that is okay, you can teach them.

16. Try to love yourself as you love others.

17. Faking confidence is not a bad thing, if you fake something long enough you start to believe it a little at a time.

18. You tougher than you believe and you can endure and persist because you are resilient.