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Centering oneself isn’t difficult. But it does require concerted efforts, namely awareness, commitment, accountability, and, above all, intentionality.

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I love making Spotify playlists for super obscure themes, like “the summer of 1997” or “the feeling you get when you realize you are driving too fast and it’s raining” or “these would make a good soundtrack for a zombie movie”.

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Drink a glass of water before you have your coffee.

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I’m here to tell you that you don’t need to chastise yourself forever. You don’t need to hold your dukes up at your own reflection, ready to sock a blow to the mirror.

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You shouldn’t feel guilty for resting. You cannot be productive every moment of every day. You need to give yourself breaks in order to keep yourself healthy. You need to be kind to your body and mind.

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When did the word “girly” start being used as an insult or considered a degrading thing?

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You are allowed to appreciate your warmest memories without wanting to run back to them. Sometimes, the people who were instrumental to you in the past no longer serve you in the present. Sometimes, you’re meant to move on without the people and places that have shaped you. Even though it hurts to say goodbye, you cannot remain in the same place forever. Once you outgrow your surroundings, you owe it to yourself to move on.

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We need people like you in this world. We need the softness, we need the people who remind us of connection when we are all avoiding eye contact. I am proud of you for being this person in this world. The way that you love others is inspiring. And so if no one told you this today — you do not need to apologize for the way you feel. You do not need to apologize for how your heart exists here. There is courage in being the person who connects. There is bravery in staying open despite what you have been through. You should be proud of yourself for loving. Please don’t ever stop.

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You are simply just a human trying to survive and make your way through an overloaded world.

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The greatest lesson wasn’t one I read from a book or learned from a professor. It wasn’t about how to prepare for my career or how to live on my own.