Let’s face it, guys. You can’t please everyone. There is always going to be that one person, or several people that never give you the chance to see eye-to-eye. Whether it’s your looks, personality, or lifestyle choices, someone will ALWAYS disagree or want to bring you down. I’m here to tell you that it’s okay to not please everyone. You would never survive if you tried to, and it makes you a better person to move on from situations that you can’t control. Being passive isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but not standing up for yourself most definitely is. Be who you want to be, not who everyone else thinks you should be.

First off, do these people pay your bills? Do they buy your groceries? If these people have no impact upon your daily life, then why would you worry about their irrelevant opinion? Haters gonna hate. We just have to move on from the negativity. People can be SO judgmental. Maybe you’ve even been that person. We are all human, we all make mistakes. Move on, and let go of whatever it was that made you so bitter. Don’t waste your energy on anyone or anything that doesn’t make you better in the long run. Hating people that you don't understand will never make you love yourself more. Bringing others down will only make you stoop down lower. Please don’t be that person.

I was bullied a lot as a kid (we all were to some extent). I was an easy target and we all know how cruel kids can be. Being a nerd (because I was smart) and overweight caused me to go through a lot of pain during my early years. I constantly wondered what people thought of me. I wondered with every breath I took whether I was making the “right decision” or not. The “wrong decision” would mean that I would get picked on and that my heart would hurt a little more than it already did. This went on for years. People would laugh and I would assume it was about me. They would whisper, and I would know that they were talking about me. I lacked so much self-confidence from being hurt by people that never really mattered.

Here I am today, strong and able. I’m here to say that I could give a damn what you think of me. Don’t like my tone? Too bad. Think I need to lose weight? Sorry, not sorry. The moment you want to write me a check that I can use to pay one of my bills will be the moment that your opinion becomes relevant. You are of no use to me, and I could easily talk about one of the many flaws that make you who you are… But I won’t. I will never target someone because of the things that make them into the person that they are. Big forehead? But your eyes are gorgeous. A little on the blunt side? I commend you for your honesty. College drop-out? I’m glad you did what you thought was right, or what you had to do. I can’t stress it enough, your life is about YOU and no one else. Take time to focus on yourself. Make yourself a priority and forget about anyone else who makes you feel like less than you are really worth.

The world is harsh and people are cold. No one should have to go through some of the things that they forced to in life. But you should never forget, we were built to endure and adapt. That old saying “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” has been proven time and time again to be true. We move on, and even if we get hurt in the process, our hearts keep beating. Sometimes it’s hard to draw the line between your body and mind, but they are two pieces of an entire unit that makes up the uniquely beautiful person that you have become. You are the one who has to die when it is time for you to go. Live your life in the ways that make YOU happy. Not strangers, friends, or even family. YOU. Never feel guilty for being yourself. You shine brighter than you could ever see for yourself, and the people that truly love and care about you will always know that, no matter what. Thanks for reading. <3