As you grow up and experience different things in life, you learn, you adapt, and you know better. The majority of lessons learned in life aren't just handed to you--you have to go through the ups and downs in order to get the best of both worlds and end up with knowledge that isn't biased. Just like you, I have gone through my fair share of experiences so far and I hold onto these ten phrases to help me get through anything.

1. First off, it’s all going to be OK. Everything is temporary. That goes for happiness, pain, pleasure, stress, etc. I promise that one day you will understand why your life is the way it is. One day down the line you’ll hear the love of your life reading bedtime stories to your children in the comfort of your own home, and you'll think, “Wow, I made it.” And I promise you that that moment will be worth it. So pull yourself together and smile.
2. Life is only as hard as you make it. Always remember to be optimistic. Start your days with a good cup of coffee, or tea, whichever you prefer, and quickly jot down three things you are grateful for. Remembering the small things you live for are not only good for the soul, but they put you in a peaceful state of mind. Take part in a morning yoga class with a close friend. Go for a jog. Or even cook up a delicious and nutritious breakfast. Start off your day with whatever makes you happy. I can guarantee that this will put you in a good mood.
3. Giving up isn't an option. For what its worth, it’s never too late to be who you want to be. To live a life you're more than proud of. You most certainly can do something if you put your mind to it. Nothing sounds worse than growing old with regret. You can either give it all you've got right now and feel accomplished with several aspects of your life, or you can slack now and end up with a void of regrets you can't seem to get rid of.
4. Pain is inevitable, as much as we all try to avoid it. Pain is inevitable. There are going to be days when you are shivering from sadness, but I can assure you that ripping yourself open doesn’t release your demons. Just remember that time heals all. You are given pain because you are capable of handling it. You are strong. You are courageous. You are whole. You are you. And there isn't a single person like you.
5. Fight. The struggle only makes you stronger. I don't care that you got into drugs for 2 months straight. Or how much sleep you lost in that period. I don't care if you laid on your bedroom floor at 2 a.m. crying your eyes out. You're not a bad person for the way you tried to kill the sadness. It’s really all part of the fight to survive. You're human, and the way you choose to survive is OK. It may not feel that way tomorrow, in a week, or even a month from now, but I promise you will be OK.
6. Family is forever. Never take your parents for granted. Or any family member for that matter. They spent years and years molding you into the strong individual you are today. They loved you and cared for you during the hardest times of your life, and they celebrated your joy and happiness with you. Appreciate them and try not to go a day without telling them how much you love them. Trust me, they love hearing it from you.
7. Always be grateful. Be grateful for wherever you are at this given moment. The taxes you pay mean you're employed. Be grateful for windows that need washing and trash that needs to be taken out because it means you have a home. Be grateful for the stars you have to walk up, because it means you are capable of walking. Be grateful for the annoying sounds around you because it means you can hear. Be grateful for the alarm that wakes you up, even if its at 5 a.m., because it means you're alive.
8. If you can’t afford the nicest clothes, that’s OK. Everyone is so materialistic these days. Focus on making yourself into a good person as opposed to who’s looking at you. In a couple years you’re going to forget about 99 percent of these peoples’ names. Who cares if they like what you’re wearing now? Be comfy. Be cozy. Clothes are clothes.
9. Put your heart out there every once in a while. It takes a little bit of courage, but in the end you miss 100 percent of the chances you don't take. What's the worst that can happen? You’ll get your heart broken. But soon enough you'll heal and realize that it’s OK. Not everyone you come across will like you, and you may not like some people either, but that’s OK.
10. Somebody will always love you. Somebody loves you if they pick an eyelash off of your face or apply a wet napkin to your dirty skin. You didn’t ask for these things, but this person went ahead and did it anyway. They don’t want to see you looking like a fool with eyelashes and crumbs on your face. They notice these things. They really look at you and are the first to notice if something is amiss with your beautiful visage! Somebody loves you if they want you to be happy, even if that involves something that doesn’t benefit them. They realize the things you need to do in order to be content and come to terms with the fact that it might not include them. Never underestimate the gift of understanding. When there are so many people who are selfish and view relationships as something that only must make them happy, it's nice having someone around who can take their needs out of any given situation if they need to. Somebody will always love you. If you don’t think this is true, then you’re not paying close enough attention.