how to heal yourself
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

You Are Your Best Supporter

You know you best.

55
You Are Your Best Supporter

Last school year I served as a resident advisor in one of the dorms on campus. And no this is not an article about my overall work experience or horror stories, but just about one particular moment.

At the end of the year, there was a celebration. We signed mugs for the seniors and supervisors, ate nachos, and received paper plate awards. Mine was Resident Spiritual Goddess, very fitting. The final activity was writing notes of appreciation for everyone and putting them in jars we would receive when we moved out.

I got my jar on May 1st and in the midst of moving into my sublet, I lost the jar. There was a day I was feeling exceptionally down and I thought the kind words would fill me up but it was nowhere to be found.

Fast forward 25 days later, I have numbing depression and I'm trying to motivate myself. I go searching in my room for plastic spoons because I don't feel like doing the dishes and I'm trying to force myself to eat. It seems that I always find one thing when I'm searching for something else. Anyway, I find the jar and a part of me lights up but also think "Where was this a few weeks ago?".

I start to read the 15 or so messages and they're very similar to each other and every other note I've ever received. "I love your energy" "You light up the room" "It was great becoming your friend". I appreciated those messages but like I said, I heard it all before and it wasn't what I needed to hear in that moment.

It wasn't until I got to the last message that my numbness broke. The message read, "You're the bomb and you're gonna get through this." My face softened and I almost cried because I was and still am going through a long and rough process of healing.

I turned the note around to see who wrote it. Silly me, I was reading through the jar of notes so fast I didn't even recognize my own handwriting.

I couldn't believe it. How could I forget that I wrote myself a note? It's such a me thing to do. And I couldn't believe that my words of encouragement almost brought me to tears.

For so long during my healing, I was looking to others for support and validation, which is normal and completely okay, but if you don't hear that same support and validation from yourself, other people's words won't matter.

If you don't fill yourself with thoughts and messages of love, those same messages from the outside will feel foreign. Sometimes you really have to remind yourself of that you can get through whatever life throws at you. So, ask yourself, "What do I need to hear right now?" And don't go searching for anyone else, say it to yourself.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

58266
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

37534
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

959157
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

193166
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments