This isn't a rant, but it is something so important that I believe needs to be said.

Having courage to do what's best for you is one of your greatest assets. I'm not just talking about cancelling an rp or pausing your writing to take a break. This lesson can be seen in all parts of life.

You may be asking

I'm going to tell you a story. One day there was a girl, let's say S, who was friends with someone she was afraid of, K. K would constantly poke at S's weight and tell her that if she tried hard she could squeeze into size two jeans.

S had had enough of K, as did S's friend, L. Despite everyone telling her not to do it and despite K being popular, S exposed the shit out of K. S ended up having to leave her top spot in the varsity choir and her spot in a acapella group. But S had done what no one else had the courage to do. She confronted K, cried in front of K, and didn't let K dictate her feelings any longer.

The effect that S had on L was the same. L was terrified of K, more so than S was. It took L twice as long to cut out K and multiple cyber bullying incidents for L to grow apart from K.

S dealt with people talking so much crap about her/excluding her that she went into a deep depression, spiraling into alcohol. It was a short time, but she pulled herself out of it by saying that she was good enough. She could conquer others and she could withstand the constant abuse, because S was more than that.

S began to help people by volunteering her time at a hospital and helping out her friends in classes, rather than competing with them. L became the student body president, even with the amount of people that hated her. If S and L never had the courage to stand up to K, S never would've changed her ways and L never would've been truly happy.

You must have courage to do what is best for yourself and those around you. You must stand strong in your beliefs, no matter what anyone tells you. You must, importantly, be kind to all whom you come into contact with. You never know when their last day is and you never know when yours is either.

So yes, S was me.
L is my absolute best friend.

And I've met so many more in my life. I've had the courage to stop drinking and to say no to things I wouldn't normally do. I mean, instead of drinking I help drunk people but that's the best I can do.

If you think that your voice doesn't matter, well it does. If you think that standing up for yourself won't matter, it does matter. If you think standing up for others doesn't matter, you're flat out wrong.

Having courage is the hardest thing to do in your life. It can create problems and solve them. It can cost you friends, popularity, followers, and opinions. But you will NEVER regret it. Because you stayed true to who you are and you kept yourself healthy.

Mental health is just as important as physical health. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

If I never would've stood up for myself against K, I would've never had the great opportunities I have now. I was transferred into a chemistry class and ended up as one of the top scholars in my school. I would've never reconnected with my old friends or met two of my very best friends to this day, A and E. Most importantly, I would've been a bystander to all of her hateful slander and lost respect for myself.

So from my past, here's a lesson for you all.

BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO STAND UP FOR YOURSELF AND OTHERS.

You can replace friends but you can never replace your conscience.

enjoy your tea for today and treat others how you would treat yourself.

^^ if u know where this is from, mad respect to you.

xoxo, a preachy Sigurd