I've been staring at my computer screen for a long time, begging my brain to think of something. To come up with one last effort to have any chance of creativity. But, it feels like all my creative juices have leaked into various places. Whether it be my academics, my social life, or my last ditch efforts to pretend that I"m not tired all the time, all of that has gone away.

Well, I want to mention a few things about mental health that people don't realize. Not only is it draining, it is sometimes debilitating. I feel as though sometimes I walk around campus as a zombie. I'm living, I'm obviously breathing, but I don't feel like I'm there anymore. Sometimes, I feel like an empty shell of a person. But everyday, I try to push myself a little further. I push myself out of my comfort zone, even if that means getting out of bed that day, because that can be a struggle. I get onto myself almost everyday, because I realize a lot. I realize that I am young, healthy, lucky, so I should be happy all the time. After all, I have a lot to be grateful for.

Well, I am here to tell you something. It is okay to be not okay. It is okay to struggle, to pause, to leave. It's okay to not be present once in a while. I've had a hard time realizing that. Sometimes, it's harder to pretend to be okay than to let yourself be sad. Sometimes, you need to check out, and that's okay. But it's not okay to not check back in. It's not okay to continue to let yourself struggle, it's not okay to live your life having more bad days than good. You deserve to live a life where you can celebrate everyday that you are alive and loved. And, if you're struggling like I am, please remember that others struggle this way. You are not alone. Fight everyday to live your life the way that you deserve to.