This Is The Hardest Lesson I Had To Learn This Year

The hardest lesson I’ve had to learn this past year is to stay true to myself.

I’ve had some amazing opportunities to experience things in a short time that many people don’t get to experience in their entire life.

I’ve also made more mistakes than others. I’ve hurt a lot of people and been hurt by a lot too.

But beyond all the lessons I’ve learned, there’s one lesson that stands the test of time, that is continuously put to the test by situations entirely out of my control.

Never let anyone make you cruel.

The blog I almost wrote.

I started to type it, and I stopped. I stopped because I realized the words I was typing didn’t match what my heart was saying or what I believe.

I wrote a question: why do we care for others when the world continually gives us reasons why we shouldn’t?

I nearly wrote a blog questioning why we care for others, questioning the single most important thing I believe in — to care more.

From time-to-time, I wish I could be that guy, the guy who just doesn’t care.

I’ve tried to be that guy, the guy who’s too cool to care, and I can’t do it. Sometimes I wish I could because life would be a lot easier.

But then I realized why I’m grateful not to be that guy…because I know what it’s like to be alone.

Because I know what it’s like to be standing on the edge of the cliff looking over it and being ready to take that step. Because I know what it’s like to go home and lay in your bed feeling like not a single person would even miss you if you were gone.

Because I know what it’s like to feel like no one cares.

No matter how badly you want to give the world a taste of its own medicine, it isn’t worth losing yourself.

The hardest, but most important lesson I’ve learned is never let this world make you cruel.