As a kid I always heard this one wise tale: “ if you can’t sleep, count sheep.” I’ve never tried it but as a little kid some of my friends would say it works. It would help you feel at peace and sleep better.

Have you ever tried counting people who care about you?

“If you feel alone, count the people who care about you and make you feel known.”

I am very guilty of forgetting about the people who truly care about me. I’ve learned that from myself and watching other friends, that as humans we tend to focus on the wrong people. We focus on those whose attention we want, not the ones who give us the attention. Sometimes we are willing to go the extra mile and love in our own way; however, not everyone loves the way you love.

I’m not going to give you some corny speech about how you should focus on those that love you and give you attention. However, I am going to tell you to count those who care about you. To notice the people who are there for you when you feel alone, especially those who make you feel less alone.

There is so much power in not feeling alone. Those that can successfully make you feel less alone, and are willing to be there, well, I would say they are your forever friends.

I used to find the concept of people who are in your life “forever” overwhelming. However recently, this prospective changed because I've opened myself up to those who have always been there while I was too busy looking for comfort and attention from the wrong people.

Forever friends are the people who are willing to be there for you, willing to go on adventures with you, willing to challenge you, and wiling to understand you. But most importantly, I think forever friends are the people who you don’t have to see every day and you could be a part of months, but still come back together and it feels as though time hasn’t past.

They are willing to dream for you and see a brighter future when you can’t. They give you the necessary tough love you need because sometimes we need to hear the cold hard truth; not the fluff.

So, I challenge you to look at those people who embody all these attributes and go to them to feel less alone because when we are in a tough situation, sometimes, we can't see past that situation and we forget about those who care. I understand that this is easier said than done because it can feel like we have no one, but, you do and people care.

“If you feel alone, count the people who care about you and make you feel known.”