Dear Survivor,

If you’re reading this, you yourself or someone you know has gone through something traumatic. It’s a sad fact that every day so many people go through traumatic, life changing experiences. And what can we do? Should we give up and let a certain situation get the best of us? No. You fight. You fight for yourself. You fight for everyone else in this world that goes through tough shit every day. You fight for your mental, physical, and emotional health. So to those who fought or that are still fighting everyday; here’s to you. Because you’re truly a survivor to me.

No matter what obstacle you've gone through in your life, whether it be small or large; you’re still a survivor to me. Whether you’ve had to deal with depression, a sexual assault, or an attack; you’re a survivor. Whether you’ve had to deal with bullying, mental illnesses, or body shaming; you’re a survivor. If you overcame (or are still overcoming) a tough situation that life threw at you, then you ARE a survivor. You overcame something so incredibly hard to do, which shows your strength. You never gave up even when every muscle and thought in your body told you to, which shows your determination. You stood up and fought for yourself, which shows your independence. If you have done these things, or are still trying to, then you are just like me. I went through something very traumatic a few years ago, and I let it take over my entire life. It affected every little thing that I said, thought, or did. But with the help of a supportive family and my friends, I knew that I was going to be okay. I still am overcoming this obstacle everyday. I have never given up, even when I thought nothing would get better. I stood up and fought for myself, and continue to do so everyday. I am a survivor. And I’m not the only one. Because if you’ve overcame something in your life that took strength, independence, and determination; then you’re a survivor as well. So keep on fighting, and know that we're in this together.

Sincerely,

Another Survivor