November Encouragement

It's officially November. 2018 is starting to come to a close (or, if you follow a different calendar, your new year is already here). I'm not entirely certain where this year went, but I know it was a bit of a roller coaster--and that's just on a personal level, not on a national or worldwide scale. That's a whole other ball of wax I'm not going to touch here, for my mental health if nothing else.

I am, however, going to drop some encouragement here. Because if I need it, I'm sure someone else does, too. Yeah, I know they all sound kind of like generic uplifting bullshit, but sometimes that's still a reminder we need.

• You're more loved than you think you are, even though it's hard to believe.
• Found family is just as valid and important as blood family--if not more so. Don't feel obligated to put blood family over found family this holiday season.
• Weird and quirky is good. You do you, as long as you're not hurting anyone (including yourself).
• Everything is awful right now, but you're still here. That's something to celebrate.
• Take everything one step at a time and focus on what's right in front of you, the things you can influence right now. You can't carry the whole world on your shoulders.
• Even a little step forward is progress. Don't discount the little things.
• Your worth isn't determined by your productivity or your accomplishments. You're amazing just for being here and being you.

I know it can feel like the world is crashing in on us right now. I know the holiday season can be rough on its own, and even rougher with everything else happening around us marginalized folks.

But we're still here. We're still fighting, in whatever way suits us as individuals (even if that's just surviving). We're not going anywhere, no matter what people in power want.

So hang in there, my friends. Take a deep breath and remember to take care of yourself during this shitstorm.

I love you.

- Nonir