Let everything toxic in your life go. Everything that has been causing you stress, everything that has caused you pain is not worth having to deal with. You deserve to radiate happiness, love, and support. People who add negative energy into your life have no right to waste any of your time. "Friends" that spread drama and anger within your friendship deserve to be cut out. You have the right to be selfish and leave someone out of your life if they are affecting you in the worst ways possible.

You deserve to express how you feel. No matter who or what is making you question your worth remove whatever it is completely. Stop hanging out with that one friend who won't let you express your opinions and feelings, refuse to text that one boy again that makes you feel completely worthless. This is your life and you do NOT need anybody or anything in it making you feel like you are not worthy of being loved.

I have found that is so easy to turn a blind eye to people treating you less than you're supposed to be treated. There have been times where there seem to be nothing wrong with a friendship or relationship because the negativity surrounding it has gone on so long that it seems normal. However, if I come to the reality that there is a person in my life that stays in the back of my mind and dictates my words and actions, I owe it to myself to cut that person out.

Stop letting people drag you around and lead you on. Stop trying to please everyone you meet just so they like you. Stop trusting people so easily. These are all things I would tell myself repeatedly for months on end, and then continuing to live in the toxic lifestyle I've created by surrounding myself with people who could care less about me.

Months flew by as I continued to let people mistreat and use me however they pleased. These were the months where I grew comfortable of what I knew, which became toxic. I began to act out and react with anger. Friends and family that knew me before, became afraid of me. I began to only focus on my friends and material things instead of school and family. I was desperate to make myself into the person my "friends" wanted me to be.

Recently, however, I've gained a new perspective. I have learned that I deserve to be happy. I deserve to be able to focus on things I'm passionate about. I deserve to know my worth. This was the time I began to grow. I was finishing up my summer semester and just starting a new job. This is also when began writing. Writing has given a voice that I could not easily express beforehand. Writing has become my escape from everything toxic in my life.

I learned not to care what people thought of me, and in turn I have just been staying busy doing what I have to do, and having a hell of a lot more fun than I've had in a long time. Friends and family have begun to realize an increase of positivity in my mood, and I have begun to smile a lot more than I have prior to this month. I was so focused on pleasing people that did not care about me or what happens to me that I did not realize how free I would feel as soon as I left them behind.

I finally found a solid group of people that love and cherish the time they have with me and making the best of our moments together. They always make sure I'm ok and are always there for me whenever I need them. These are the kind of people everyone should have the pleasure of having in their lives. I have met someone who wants to see me and makes me feel special every time I see him. Without my recent reality check, I would still be trying to please the toxic people I used to have in my life.

Growth is everything. Just recently I began to rebuild who I am, and I have been learning to make myself top priority in my life. I have begun to love myself again.