Dear Evan Hansen,
Today is going to be a good day and here's why: because today, today at least you're you - and that's enough.
Dear Evan Hansen,
Today is going to be a good day. Today is going to be a great day, and I have you to thank for that. Life gets hard sometimes, I think you know that. I broke my foot this past summer and had to have surgery. I was out of school for two semesters as a result. Being in bed for two months becomes a lot less fun when you consequentially gain weight and in turn, have your crippling anxiety and depression spiral out of control. (By the way, casts are the worst, am I right?) However, you have this uncanny ability to remind me that there are more things in life than just the things I'm worried about in this moment.
There have been so many times in my life where giving up felt like the only option I had. It felt like my story was at a permanent standstill. Knowing that you felt that way too, it reminded me that I'm human. This past year has been hard. I had a hard time talking to people. I had a hard time leaving my house. You said it best- it felt like I disappeared. I thought about following in your shoes by writing letters to myself, but honestly, I was too boring to reply to even my own messages. It was difficult. No matter what I did, I was on the outside looking in. Afraid. Afraid I was never going to amount to anything. Afraid that who I was then was who I was going to be forever.
I heard your story, Evan Hansen. Not the one you wrote a speech about and got really famous for. Your real story. We're a lot alike, which you might have gathered from all of the previously stated. I heard your story and I wanted to tell you a few things. First of all, I wanted to thank you, Evan Hansen. You found me. My story no longer feels like it is stuck. I was moving forward, through the glass, to the other side of that window. I had a purpose, a meaning, I reached up and I rose again. Lastly, Evan Hansen, I hope you have a wonderful day, because today, today at least you're you - and that's enough.
Thank you, Evan Hansen.
Sincerely,
Me
PS. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the new, smash hit Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen speaks on mental illness and suicide. The entire soundtrack can be found on Spotify. Please take the time to educate and advocate.
