Honestly, think about it, when was the last time that you were fully content with where you are at in your life? Are you just simply trying to survive or are you actually living? Now, I know there is way more to think about rather than just a simple yes or no, so let's take the time to do that.

With COVID-19, plenty of things got turned upside down for everyone. A series of unfortunate events happened for everyone, not just you, and not just me, literally everyone in the world had something in some way change. Who's to say that you can't make the best out of the situation. You're probably talking to me through your screen thinking "the best? out of a world pandemic? how?" I know, it sounds impossible, but nothing is impossible.

For those struggling mentally, this one is for you. I know staying at home is not the easiest thing to do when you're depressed, it's honestly the worst. At the beginning of all of this I was really worried with how my mental health would survive, and really if I would survive. As you can see, here I am, proud, and more content with my life than I have been. I learned to keep myself busy at home. Which consisted of many phone calls with friends because we had to stay in touch some how, I took up the task of re-doing my room which kept me busy most of the time, a ton of much needed quality time with my family with soooo many card games, and most importantly a time to focus on me. This was a perfect time to work on my mental health because I really didn't have anything else to do.

I hate that it took this for me to realize that life really is beautiful. It took this for me to realize that no minute of any day should ever be taken for granted. However, I am so thankful that I was able to see this now rather than later.

Another important factor to this for me was the people in my life. Are the people I surround myself with the best for me? Do they inspire me to be the best version of myself? Those are some really hard questions to ask yourself, because the outcome may require you to remove some people out of your life and it's far from easy, but so entirely worth it in the end. Why would you continue to surround yourself with people who don't see your worth? You will never see your worth if you do. I'm pretty sure I deleted around 300 people off my snapchat. How I even had that many haha, I do not know. I learned to stop caring about the amount of followers I had on instagram and the amount of likes I would get, because honestly, no one cares. It does not make you anymore valuable, they do not determine your worth. Post what you want and don't worry about what other people like or don't like.

Realizing your worth is a whole new ball game and I am so glad I finally made it because, wow. Being single made me realize everything I have to offer and how worthy I am of someone who sees that. If you're close with me you know this was one of my biggest accomplishments. No more settling for just anyone, I'm not not doing it and neither are you. YOU reading this are so worth more than whatever that guy or girl is going to give you and you need to stop looking for someone to validate you. You validate yourself, no one can take your worth away from you. If you don't know your worth, you need to before you jump into a relationship, because as I said earlier, how can you expect someone to see your worth if you don't even know it? Love yourself and know your worth.

Take time off your phone, please, you won't regret it. I have to admit, I am usually glued to my phone watching TikTok's, but those moments I choose not to be on my phone are the moments I will hold close to me. My friend Morgan and I took a little road trip shortly after the stay at home order was lifted (don't worry we took precautions), but we picked a place called Turkey Run State park which is located in Indiana, and if you haven't been, I highly suggest you start planing your trip there. It was absolutely beautiful, all of it created by our God, there for all of us to see. We spent a few hours hiking through it and made some pretty funny memories through our day there, memories that no one can take from us. I just got back from a week spent at the beach, which by the way was very needed, and I spent that time enjoying the sound of the waves clashing. That very week was actually what made me decide to finally sit down and write this. That trip I spent time off my phone, enjoying the ocean waves, the sand between my toes, laying in the sun, with a book in my hand. You don't even need to spend your time off the phone on a trip, just spend time with those around you, like really spend time with them, don't pick up that phone, because whatever it is can wait.

Enjoy this one life you are given. Love those around you the most you can. Take those road trips. Put the phone down and pay attention. Take care of yourself and learn to stop caring about the likes and the followers. Do what you were put on this earth to do.