I remember being encouraged to read from a very young age. I remember being told that reading a book would allow me to escape reality for a while.

This week I needed that break from reality, I needed to forget the stresses that were pressing upon me. It was one of those weeks where my mind was far to busy, and my thoughts were spinning out of control.

And so, I grabbed a book, walked to my favorite spot on campus and immersed myself into the heart of Rupi Kaur.

Milk and Honey. I got the book from my roommate, it was already annotated and tabbed. I didn't mind, I started from the beginning and got all the way through.

Rupi Kaur, the author of Milk and Honey, describes her journey through poetry in this book about hurting, loving, breaking, and healing.

I meant to sit for about twenty minutes, I just wanted something to distract me. However, I sat for two hours, centered, and relaxed. Not thinking about anything else going on around me.

The poetry was simple, yet powerful; one piece in particular has had me thinking since I finished reading:

Most importantly love like it's the only thing you know how. At the end of the day, all this means nothing- this page, where you're sitting, your degree, your job, your money. Nothing even matters except love and human connection. Who you loved and how deeply you loved them. How you touched the people around you and how much you gave them

I was on the elevator the other day and heard a girl say "love isn't something that exists in college." This left me perplexed, someone so young had lost hope in love and everything it comes with.

But the more I thought about it, in college people expect being hurt due to our hookup culture, rather than being loved and finding love.

What people don't understand is that at the end of the day both love and hurt is what shapes you and makes you stronger.

So to the girl in the elevator I tell you this;

Let yourself love, allow yourself to be vulnerable, but know how to protect your heart. Because when you do look back, all of this means nothing.

What matters is who you loved, and how deeply you loved them.