To The Ones That Are Lost And Afraid

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Everyone gets lost once in awhile, but what people don’t know is that being lost is the best thing that has ever happened.

Don’t worry, this open letter is not to say that “everything is gonna be alright.” In fact, being lost and afraid is good — good for your mind and soul. It keeps you awake and keeps you alive and breathing. I myself have been lost and afraid in this world. Let me say this to you: the world is a confusing place especially the people they tell good things will happen, but the opposite will happen. It’s hard to live here, but at the same time it’s beautiful. It’s a beautiful ruin.

Being lost and afraid gives you an open door to your imagination — an open door to you. I always ask, “why am I here?” I never did get an honest, straight-forward answer from the man upstairs. Every answer I got was chopped into pieces. So, being young, clueless, and afraid, it felt like I was crossing life like a blind man with a walker.

Those answers didn’t have any meaning to me. I didn’t know what to do to it or how to even start life based on those answers. There was a point where I couldn’t sleep for 21 days. It was physically and emotionally hurting my head. I was afraid of making my own decisions. I was like this because I had failed so many times, I’m scared to put myself out there or to be good at something I really care about.

The future scared me. Something about not knowing gave me really bad anxiety. We were taught that being lost in the world full of opportunities is not socially accepted — they said having a plan will be easier, but the truth is, it just makes more of a struggle.

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
— J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

The thing is, during these times, this is where you find your best self and create the best decisions. Understand being lost is okay. All of us feel this way sometimes. Don’t think you’re alone. We’re here; let’s get lost together.