I want to write a love letter to the world.

I want to stitch up the aches, the pains that people are suffering. I want to steal the hate from people’s souls and infuse them with acceptance and compassion.

Sometimes when I’m having a bad day, I make myself turn on the news. I watch the horrors and tragedies covering the globe and I check myself. How does the saying go? If you threw your problems into a pile with everyone else’s, you’d want to pick yours back out. But right now, it’s unbearable. The news is like watching a horror film and then learning it’s a documentary.

I don’t know how to write the world a love letter; I don’t even know where to begin. All I have is: Stop with the hate. Life is hard enough. Love is love is love.

So instead, I think I’ll write a keep going letter.

This letter is for you. And for me. For anyone who needs to be reminded that: You’re doing just fine, baby cakes. I promise. Right where you are, you’re doing okay. You’re going to be alright.

If you’re feeling low, you just have to keep moving forward. If you do that, one step at a time, before you know it you’ll be around the corner, across the street and the whole world will look different. Just keep moving.

When you feel the darkness creeping in like a thick blanket, seek out the good. Remember that today a child is seeing a giraffe for the first time and it’s going to blow their mind. Remember that people are showing up for a sick friend with a bowl of soup. Better yet, be that friend. Because sometimes when you can’t find the right dose of hope, you have to be that for yourself. You have to show up and be the good in the world that day. That hour. That moment. Hope floats and soon, that goodness will find its way to something else and like a ripple in the ocean, it will spread all over.

When you feel alone. When you’re sad. When you don’t know how to make things right. When the words come out all wrong. When the door slams. When the keys are lost. Just keep going.

If we’re all alone in our sadness, then we’re all together in that too.

When getting through an hour without the tears overflowing feels like a damn marathon, keep going. When you doubt your decisions. When you doubt yourself. When you don’t think you’re capable. When you feel in way over your head. When you’re angry. When you can’t see how it will ever get better, keep going.

You’re a lightning bolt, dear friend. You’re a firecracker that can brighten the night. And like a firecracker, you’re not meant to light the whole world—it’s okay if you can only light the pocket of your own street corner. Of the room. Imagine if everyone did, how magnificent that show would be.

Try to remember that you’re unrepeatable. You bring something to this world that no one else can. You’re one of a kind. The world does not need you to carry the world’s problems today. It does not need you to perform a miracle. All you need to do is show up and do your best. And if your best is simply putting two feet on the ground, getting dressed and being kind to the people you come across—that is enough.

You are enough.

If no one tells you today, let it sink in for a moment. Let it be stitched on your heart. You’re needed. You’re a light in this world.

Try to remember there is so much good in this world—more good than bad, we have to believe that. But even more, we have to be part of it. We have to be part of the force that is fighting against the black holes that want to suck the love out of the beautiful things.

If you’re having one of those days, which in light of current events, invariably many of you are—hold onto hope. Hold onto each other. You’ve got this. You’re surrounded. You’re going to find your way to the other side and the release will be spectacular.

We’re going to be alright. We’re going to make it.

Keep going.

~

Author: Megan Brooks

Image: Author’s Own

Editor: Travis May