Let’s begin.
“It took me a while to realize ‘getting better’ isn’t about preventing myself from ever encountering negative emotions. It’s about building my toolkit and having practices in place so that I can handle the lows better; it’s about understanding that experiencing those bad days doesn’t mean I’m reverting or losing progress, but simply that I’m human. It’s all a balance. Healing isn’t linear.”
Name 3 colors you see.
Name 3 things you can touch around you.
Take 3 deep breaths.
Now that we are grounded, hi and welcome!
I sit typing at my desk while listening to “Homesick” by Madison Beer. It feels fitting to explain the importance of this song and why this blog was created. She sings, “these humans speak my language, still don’t understand it.” This verse in particular stands out to me because of how I have felt the past few months here at college. You can be with the people you call your friends, yet still never feel fully seen or connected. You can live in a place and never feel truly at home. An unrealistic standard has been set for people living away from home and becoming independent for the first time. Social media only further ruins people’s perception. Just because you see a group of people together all the time does not mean they are perfect or happy all the time. Just because you see group photos of people in the city every week doesn't mean they actually go every week. Social media can be used to get temporary validation through likes and comments to hide their insecurities. You are not alone if you feel out of place; that is why this weekly blog has been created. I want to share my personal experiences and hopefully connect with people my age who are experiencing the same. Each week, a song or a poem will be suggested, not only to add to your reading lists or playlists, but also to show how relatable music and literature can be.
For example, that is me with the music of Madison Beer and the poetry of Emily Dickinson. I lean into her poetry to help handle whatever situation I am in. She is my inspiration for becoming a published poet. Writing is a therapy. Music is a therapy. Use it! People should not be embarrassed to admit that a singer/author has helped them through tough times. Like, I will admit I listen to Creed at full volume sometimes (can you take me higherrrrr). I have no shame in my music taste. Like, I have no shame in admitting that Madison Beer has been my top music artist since 2019. She is the big inspiration for why I am writing to you today. She focuses on the importance of mental health, and it ignited something inside me, that mental health in young adults is not taken seriously. It is a sad era we live in, but we can make a change in the world and our own lives. I hope to make a small change in the world, and if it’s to help people my age have a little bit better of a day, that is all that matters. Let's get better together and prove our anxieties wrong. Small victories can be more meaningful than large ones. Even if this means that you sent someone, whom you haven’t seen in a long time, a text saying “I miss you! How are you?” You never know how much that small message can mean to someone. Almost every person you know is silently battling; all you can do is show up for them and say, "Hey, I’m here for you.”
Now, could you take out a journal or write in your notes app? Answer these questions and really think about your answer: who is a person who has helped you through dark times, and why? Write down a passion of yours that you have not done in a while. Why is it so important? Would you start doing it again?
