Hello, it's nice to meet you, random reader. My name is Amber and I have gone through a lot of stuff, this stuff has withheld my ability to have any faith in humanity, which includes myself.

So, you may be scrolling through articles like this one wondering what's the point in life, how will you escape this black hole of life, etc. I am here to tell you one thing:

If you cannot live for yourself, that's OK because the important thing is that you're here and that you find some other reason to live.

DO NOT END YOUR LIFE! That is the worst possible answer because life isn't a video game and you won't have a second chance to wake up to if you do something that drastic. Here is a list of reasons that I live:

1. I have a dog

I have a puppy, his name is Rory he is super cute and he depends on me to live. He depends on me for food, walks, and cuddles. Though suicidal urges are pretty hardcore, whenever I feel like disappearing I just go home because I know an impossibly cute face is waiting to see me.

Warning: Do not buy an animal solely for this purpose ESPECIALLY if you don't feel capable enough! The point in an animal is to help with stress NOT cause more stress

2. TV and YouTube

There's a TV show on TBS called Final Space that I'm currently obsessed with and every Monday at 10:30 pm like clockwork I get my homework done in time to watch it with my dog. It is my brightening spot of sunshine on a depressing Monday. Then every Saturday night one of my favorite cover artists on YouTube comes out with a new musical song. These might seem like silly things to most people, but they keep my mood up and encourage my mental health to stabilize.

3. Get a hobby, bro

Listen up people, between crying my eyes out and having high-functioning crappy mind health, I have a bunch of freaking hobbies that help me function between school and adulthood. I have field hockey, painting, writing, learning languages, sewing, cooking, and Minecraft. I have yet to learn every language in the world (or at least another language fluently), these hobbies are helpful for when my plans go to hell (which happens more times than I care to admit). Sometimes a hobby relating to the Arts can help because the Arts can help you express emotions that are difficult to admit to feeling.

And here is a huge list of reasons not to die even if they may seem dumb:

1. New YouTube videos

2. New Music for your favorite artist

3. New Internet friends

4. New graphics for that awesome video game

5. Meeting your animal soulmate

6. Meeting your actual soulmate

7. Doing the dishes

8. Taking care of that plant

9. Getting to the end of that Netflix list

10. Finding all the treasures tucked away in your couch

11. Discovering who the real Slim Shady was

12. Waiting for the government to disclose what really happened to 2-Pac

13. New books

14. Re-reading old books

15. The very next mental health awareness month

16. Getting to that self-love goal

17. Discovering your Hogwarts house

18. Getting your letter to Hogwarts

19. Skipping the letter and just going to Harry Potter World

20. Treating life like the patriarchy and by fighting these urges you're being a rebellious bad*ss.

21. Meeting someone one day who went through something similar who really understands you and loves you and hugs you, thanks you for staying alive, and you guys are BFFs that have sleepovers.

You guys grow old together and you two become the life goals other people sitting where you are today look up to.

22. Living until you get strong enough to no longer be silenced.

Lead a life where you help and encourage others that they can fight this too. Because you can, and so can I.

"Everyone you interact with becomes part of your story, and you become part of theirs. If you can't survive on your own, live for that one supporting role." - Unknown.