Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do what makes you happy. Dream. Follow your dreams heart first, head second. Abandon fear. It is an illusion and the great destroyer. Now is all you have, and it’s the most precious gift you’ve ever received. Now has no judgements: It is whatever you want it to be. Be different. There is no one on Earth and has never been anyone on Earth quite like you. Smile even when you are hurting. Be kind even when it is hard. The lessons that kindness teaches you when you are in pain are some of the greatest you’ll ever learn, and you cannot learn them in a classroom. Breathe. Remember that your heart pumps, your wounds heal and your skin sheds without you even having to think, so appreciate the processes your body goes through that keep you alive. There will be some day you will be taking your last breath. Learn your body, treat it well and listen to it: it knows you better than any doctor does. Have fun: there is a lot of time in life to be serious and a lot of serious things going on in the World. Appreciate the big things and take joy in the little ones. Anyone can invent a reason to be miserable: it is your duty to invent a reason to smile. Create. Lead a project. Approach your friends with an idea. Make something today, tomorrow and every day, so that before you go to bed you can say “ I changed the World today.“ Keep your real friends close, and don’t get too caught up in how many Followers you have or how many Likes you get. I doubt you’ll be counting instagram notes for your self worth on your last days. Be grateful to your family: whether you are in conflict or as thick as thieves, they have shaped who you are and brought you into the World and they deserve your heart.

Dance. Take pleasure in music and sounds and the capabilities of your limbs, your internal rhythms and your own healing process. Dancing is one of the truest ways to learn your body. Sing. Sing even if you’re terrible: sing especially when no one can hear you. Singing is a special process that the soul goes through to heal, and it’s important for you even if you think you’re bad at it. Acknowledge your faults: it is your first step to lasting change. Envision your life. Imagine what you want, the outcome you desire and who you aspire to be. Do this every moment that you can in every day, especially at your weakest moments. Be honest. You really only get one chance at it, and your heart will thank you. Read. Every problem you have ever faced has already been solved between the pages of a good book.

Travel. The idea that you need a lot of money to do this is a myth. Get out and see the World, explore, get lost, abandon old ideas and see new places. A walk around the block can bring new insight to your whole life. There is nothing else on earth that will change you like travel does, and I don’t know of anyone who has ever traveled and regretted it. Love the people who put you down, who make fun of you, who irritate you, who hate on you: they are your greatest ally, for they will see things in you that you may never see in yourself, and they are being honest with you about who you do not want to become with every cruel word. Remember: acting out is a form of mental and spiritual regression. Everyone is fighting a hard battle.

Most importantly, I think?

Believe: believe even though you cannot see, believe even when it isn’t clear to you, believe especially when it seems absolutely impossible. Never doubt the power that you have, never let self-doubt sneak up on you, never let people tell you that your hobbies cannot be your dream job or that you cannot be and look like and have exactly what you want to.

You are no different than the Saints, and you’re made up of the stars.