Life is Worth Living

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Undoubtedly, life is messy, confusing, painful, and unfair. It's gut-wrenching and unbearable at times. Sometimes you feel like you've hit rock bottom, even though you probably don't know your real "rock bottom." Life circumstances leave you to ask if you live in some simulation and you're in last place. Life comes with trauma, chaos, unexpected surprises, hardships, lies, and illnesses. Sometimes it feels like no one else knows what you have going on inside your head. 

But do you know what else life is? Life is growth and moments that shape a person into who they are. Life can be so enlightening and powerful. There are sunrises and sunsets, along with roads and skies that are meant to be traveled while chasing these masterpieces. There is music that feeds the soul and animals that are a human's best friend. Life is about making memories regardless of what happens after that. Life gives you people that are meant to hold your burdens and realize you're not alone. There are mountains, beaches, valleys, and ponds to see. There will always be places and people to experience when you feel like it doesn't get any better. 

I say all these things even though I know what it's felt like to wake up and wish you didn't. I'll be 21 years old soon, and last October felt like my rock bottom, but after everything, I needed it to happen. I've learned so much about myself. I've gone so many places that led me to experience things I never would have otherwise, and I've met people who make life worth living. I didn't give up my fight because something in me must've known everything would make sense someday, even though it still doesn't. 

Without question, there are still hard days. There are days I feel alone, and WOW, adulting is so hard. I watch my friends deal with their own adult struggles and just the other day I found myself telling a 10-year-old that they should stop wishing to grow up (because quite frankly, it sucks.) I'm young, but I've witnessed and experienced a lot. I've grown numb and regained feeling for hard things in life. I have coped in ways that could have been handled differently. I began to understand and explore heavy topics at a young age. I was always very observant and knew where things went. I think that's when the idea of "everything has a place" was instilled in me. Over the years of gathered knowledge,  it made me realize that every person has a place in this world, too. We live in a beautiful world with people who love us and a higher power that loves us more. 

Life happens, and it all happens for a reason. If you're still here, know you're meant for something big. Something incredible is coming your way. I hope you win the battles you don't tell anyone about. I hope you see yourself as equal to the people around you. You deserve to be here just as much as they do. While it was always a running joke growing up and we'd say things like "I didn't ask to be born" or something along those lines, but think about if you weren't here? There would be a void in the timeline of when people are meant to come and go. So, stay. Please please stay. If my present self could tell my past self that it would get better, maybe she could have slept better at night. 

Life is hard, bro. We've got this! 

With love, 

Jenna K. 

Location: Jacksonville, IL 62650, USA

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