You are mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted. Yet, you’re taking it day by day and for that, you should be utterly proud. Maybe the car just broke down or you’re struggling to pay rent. Maybe you’re a college student that is drowning in assignments and ready to go home, or a mother that seldom takes care of herself. You are a brother, sister, friend, mother, daughter, aunt. You are human, and you cannot do it all by yourself. It’s flu season, everyone is reeling over the election, and 2016 is finally coming to an end. If you’re like me, it has been a very rough year. I am here to tell you that you are succeeding, whether you think so or not.

Give yourself a pat on the back for doing the dishes, or taking out the trash. Congratulate yourself for finishing that assignment or getting more than 4 hours of sleep, heaven knows you needed it. Thank your body for not breaking down when you wanted to, and your mind for keeping you strong when that is the last thing you feel like you are. Take a deep breath and look around you. You may think that you are falling apart. You may cry more often, get angry out of frustration, or feel completely overwhelmed by life’s obstacles. But you are here, and you are surviving. Every breath that you take and smile that crosses your lips, is an absolute win. Every decision you make to push through is the decision to enjoy life and be a part of it. As small as you may feel, each life is an incredibly beautiful one and you are more important than you may ever realize.

The strength and willpower it takes to accomplish anything is sometimes underrated. You may not think you are doing well enough, but you are. It is completely okay to stop and smell the roses. You are not a superhero. You are not a robot that can accomplish 100 tasks at once. You are not responsible for the entire planet’s happiness. Think about your own as well. Get that 8 hours of sleep, see a movie, enjoy a night out with your friends, and do not forget that you are a resilient human being.

I cannot promise that everything will be OK, because none of us know what tomorrow holds. But, whatever pain you are experiencing or frustration you may feel, you are not alone. You are stronger than you think, and more put together than you believe. Hang in there. The tide may rise, but it always lowers again.