Someone once told me there are only three things you need to exist properly: love, passion and a heart. Now, let me point out something very specific; the word says "love" not "lover." For a long time, I have thought it meant I needed a lover or someone to love me, so I could "exist properly." This was very wrong. Now, you might be wondering what it means exactly to "exist properly." At least, I was curious. I would tell you what it means. I really would, but I don't know. I know the feeling of existing properly, but I can't explain this to you unless I use it in the words of how one feels when they exist properly. It's a wholeness. It's a sense of fulfillment and well- being.
You need a love. A love for something, somewhere, someone. But if it was me? I'd fall in love with something you can touch and see whenever, wherever. If you fall in love with someone, remember to visit. It's good to travel and change the scenery. And if you do fall in love with someone, fall in love with yourself. Fall in love with your own skin and your imperfections. Build walls out of your skin and imperfections and build four walls out of your ribcage that supports your chest. Speaking of your chest, stand tall with it out. Don't hold back words that need to be said. Fall in love with the way your hair looks after the wind blows through it. Then, enjoy it and laugh. Fall in love with that laugh and your unique smile. I can't stress this enough. How you love yourself is how to teach others to love you.
You need a passion. You need to find that "thing" that ignites a fire within your soul and makes your heart race. The things that make you smile when you think or speak about it. Find the "thing" you could write or talk about for seven days and always have new words and ideas to say about it. Then, do it. If it's traveling, buy a ticket – a train ticket, plane ticket, whatever – and travel every few months. If it's writing, write a book. Write every day. Write until your heart can't take anymore. If it's singing, sing until your lungs hate you, begging for air. If it's love, fall in love with it, all of it, 100 percent. Whatever it is, do it.
Next, you need a heart. Yes, you have an actual heart beating in your chest right this second, but you need an emotional one, as well. Have a heart, a good heart. Give. Be the kind of person who is both empathetic and sympathetic. Give second chances. Be vulnerable. Be the best version of yourself, and more, every day. You have one chance in every moment of every day, but once that moment is gone, there is no rewind button. Therefore, have a good heart.
In the past, I've existed in a way that is so improper, my bones felt brittle and my breath fell short. There is, and always will be, a certain way you body wants to feel, and if it's anything but that feeling, it notices. It feels and grows weaker and feels out of place in a group of people. Your chest feels like its walls are caving in. We talked about this. Those four walls are a home you need to build inside yourself. Don't let it cave in. Don't you dare let the home you've worked so hard to build be swept away by a whirlwind of a broken heart or a tsunami of a loved one passing.
This is you: your body, your love, your passion and your heart. There is nothing wrong with being sure of yourself. There's nothing wrong with loving yourself and being happy. There is an aura of danger and suspense that surrounds every human who is. If someone is intimidated by you, you're doing it right. Don't let this break you down. Remember that. "Don’t let someone’s bitterness kill your spirit. Happiness is not a crime, so never feel guilty for showing it. Let your light shine today and don’t worry about who it makes uncomfortable" (Trent Shelton).
To exist properly is easy. You only need three things: love, passion and a heart.
