United - Brave Together

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'I am struggling'... 3 words that can be the scariest words to say out loud. It's okay to not feel like yourself or feel like you are failing because I promise you – you're not; I can tell you that from living through a decade of poor mental health.

Do not strive to be pretty. Pretty is not something you have to be. Be strong, sassy, kind, clumsy, adventurous, interesting. There are millions of things you can be other than pretty. And what is pretty anyway? It is just a bunch of letters blended together. Be your own definition of pretty. That is more important than what the dictionary characterises it as anyway.

It's hard to dance with the devil on your back so shake him off and be the strong goddess you were made to be! Love your body – look at your mouth, it has moved in a way that those you love have been told; look at your eyes, they have seen so many beautiful and wondrous things; look at your hands, they have touched so many different things and dried so many of your tears; look at your stomach, think of all the moments it has been full of food, love and warmth, giving you butterflies when something excites you and flipping at the sight of something amazing; look at your legs, they have carried you through everything, even when you have been too tired to move, even when you thought you were not strong enough they have made you stand tall; lastly look at your feet, they have pointed you in the direction you have wanted to go and walked you away from places you didn't.

Some honest advice:

1. Your love life is merely a fraction of your life. Do not let it engulf you.

2. Do not tie happiness to things, people or places. Change it to 'I am happy and they/it adds value to my life.'

3. Rejection should not be personal; it's about comparability not inherent worth.

4. Choose to adjust to their absence than choosing to be frustrated by their presence.

5. Stop expecting someone or something to change your life. Only you can do that.

6. It's no one's responsibility to make you happy. Stop giving up that power.

Do not feel failure. Fear being in the same place next year as you are today. Remember some of your life's best days haven't happened yet. You haven't seen everything, and you certainly haven't felt everything. There are more people (and animals) for you to meet, places to see and 'firsts' to experience. The goal isn't to be endlessly in love with your body. The goal is to give so little about what you look like that you can go and do all the amazing, cool, breath-taking, jaw-dropping, scary, magical things you were made to do.

In the words of the brilliant Robyn Williams... "It's time for your next adventure. You have no idea what you're going to do tomorrow? How exciting!"