"And some will break you, some will destroy you, and some will even end you. And still, you will love the next as if you've never been hurt. And that's what makes you, you, despite the bullshit people bring, you smile as if nothing has ever happened ... and that's why I love you and I hope you never change, not for no one, not even me." -RM Drake.

So much beauty in a quote that uses such simple linguistics, so much relevance in an era that is marked by others continually hurting human beings. Not all can endure or fish through the difficulties. There is no weakness in that. That is why this world brings us social support, helping hands, and people to keep us going. But often those people who come to one's surrender are the individuals who survive and advance. They endure, feel the hurt, and yet, they keep pushing forward. They find optimism in the darkest of times and persist, even if they are blind to when the light at the end of the tunnel will actually arrive.

This life brings us all ruts and hardship, but that's not to say us warriors cannot surpass these obstacles. Though easier said than done, we must learn from these moments. We must trust the process and seek understanding with a holistic perspective. We must have the will to understand others' points of views, others' intentions, and the impact others' decisions have on the surrounding world. When it is us persistent, optimistic humans who experience the scorching flame, it will be easy to break down. It will be tempting to retreat. But we will not succumb to a waving white flag. We will endure. Deep inside of us, we will push through the struggle with all of our might, cry the tears we need to cry and then pursue our days like nothing happened. We will vent to friends and trusted companions about the funk we are in, but around the world, we will display the greatest smiles, continually looking to brighten someone else's day, even though all we wish for is for someone to brighten up our own.

That is what makes you so damn strong, this ability to find the best in the most difficult situations. Simultaneously, you do not suppress your emotions. You feel them with your full heart, you dissect them, you overanalyze, and you converse with others to ensure your chest is not ready to burst with discomfort or anxiousness, but my dear, it never shows. You are always deemed the strong one. The most compassionate. The one who continually seeks to bring out the best in others on their darkest days. The one who wants to make the most out of each and every second this life has to offer. Because even as much as you're fishing through the ambiguity of your world and the next chapter you are headed, you will waste no time. You will fill each and every moment of your day with an opportunity to learn and grow. You must understand that not everyone is capable of this, and this is why you are such a light to others, a light to yourself.

You light up a room when you're in it. People seldom have seen you very upset or angry, unless they are among your immediate comfort crew. You are known as the listener, the one who others trust with their whole heart. You even encourage others who infrequently share the dark corners of their heart and their mind to open up about their worries, their fears, and their life journey. You do so with grace, without force. People feel welcomed by you. And yet you do this all while searching for your next steps in this life, while wondering why life dealt you the cards you are currently staring blankly at in your hands. All while believing with your entire being that this ambiguous nature is certain to open some wonderful doors. So I beg of you, do not change. Your persistence and your luminous heart are making a difference, setting a standard for others to treat individuals with humane intent, and nurturing those, and even yourself, through life's toughest moments. You are a rare breed, embrace it, believe it, even when you find it difficult, and never stop loving like your life depended on it.