Shine Bright, You Crazy Diamond

I like to think that every person in this world has a bit of the “I want to save the world” mentality.
It’s not very often that I find someone who shares that same passion with me, that same drive.  To leave a mark on this world, albeit small.
I don’t meet very many individuals like that.
But the ones I do meet, I crave to be around.
Because I think two is better than one.  And three is better than none.

But there’s another kind of mentality that I think we need to remind ourselves of.
And it is this:

No matter how much you want to save the world, you need to know that saving just one person is enough.  
And if that person is you, it’s okay.

Now I’m not talking about the spiritual aspect of things.  I believe there is only One who can truly save you from all that is evil and corrupt in this world.  And only one place where nothing will ever harm you again.
But what I’m talking about is that while living in this world, you can’t depend on others.  Yes, there are many people who will love you, care for you, but they’re humans – just like you.  And they will fail.  They will fall short.  They won’t always be there for you.  Don’t let this make you mad.  Don’t let it harden you.  Don’t let the pain, that I guarantee you will experience in life, make you hate.  Don’t let bitterness steal your joy.  Because at some point, you’re going to have to stop.
Stop being angry.
Stop being sad.
Stop hurting yourself and learn instead that it’s okay to be gentle.
It’s okay to admit you need help.
You need to learn to embrace love and acceptance instead of being afraid of it.
You have to love yourself.
Learn to care for and respect your body.
Learn to show others you care for yourself and deserve to be treated as the beautiful human you are.
Don’t waste time being unhappy.
Don’t waste time trying to be like someone else.
Don’t think that there’s all to life – to be better than the next person.
Don’t do this to yourself.
And don’t let others tell you what to be.
You are you.
That’s who you were created to be.
Explore that.
Find what that means.
Search after His design for you with all your heart and it will be made clear to you.
Maybe not today, or tomorrow, or next year.  It might take your whole life.  But what an adventure that will be.
Have goals and dream big, but don’t focus on what can happen in a month or a year.  Things can change in the blink of an eye.  Instead, you need to fix your attention on today, the next twenty-four hours, and do whatever you can in that amount of time to get closer to where you want to be tomorrow.  Just a day at a time.

Discover your vision and your goals as early as possible.  Find what you’re passionate about and follow it.  Become aware of what’s important to you and show it to the world.  Live life from the heart.  Don’t let magazines, billboards, television or the internet tell you what to do and who to be.  You are your own person.  You don’t need to be validated by the world.  Live for people, but not for their approval.

Shine your light.  Because you’re a beautiful diamond all on your own.