Tips for when you're not quite where (or who) you want to be

Let go of people who make you feel smaller than you are.

Forgive them for not knowing how to love you.

Don’t let sadness devolve into self-pity. Reset your sense of agency over your life.

Empathize. And keep empathizing.

Behave like the kind of friend you'd want to have.

Write yourself love letters.

Write down a list of your favorite things in no particular order: green tea, autumn, string music, puppy breath, my husband’s laugh, sunrises, dry red wine, old books, bread dipped in oil, thunderstorms, cuddling dogs, reminiscing

When you admire a stranger’s beauty and imagine their life as any better than your own, know their list of favorites is as simple as yours.

When you happen upon a pleasant view or nostalgic scent, stop and enjoy it for a little while longer.

And on those days you can’t find anything pleasant, open a book.

You’re not moving backwards, you’re just changing.

You can’t move backwards even if you tried.

Now isn’t even now anymore. That was two seconds ago.

And if you feel like you’re merely surviving, that’s fine too.
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So you’re not where you want to be, or you’re not quite who you want to be, I’m proud of you anyway.