For You

Here’s to the teens who got their hearts broken early and went through that mess of falling apart on their bedroom floors to the sound of their favorite sad songs.

Here’s to the kids who were bullied to the point of near breaking and wished beyond imagine that for once someone would just stop to say something nice in the hallway.

Here’s to the teens who had to get jobs as soon as it was legal just to eat a decent meal and afford someplace to live.

Here’s to the girls and guys who’ve been harassed and touched and forced into things they’ll never truly get over.

Here’s to the kids and teens who have barely made it through the education system even though they worked as hard as they could.

Here’s to the girls who have to brush off harassment because “boys will be boys” and “they shouldn’t have been wearing such revealing clothes”.

Here’s to the people who’ve had to hide in the closet because they know this world is quick to judge and slow to accept even if it’s only love.

Here’s to the people who’ve argued with who they are and have tried to be someone else because they’re scared to be themselves.

Here’s to the parents who have had to stand outside their kids’ bedroom doors listening to them sob and not knowing quite what to say.

Here’s to the people who’ve tried to drink and smoke away memories of people who never cared enough.

Here’s to the outcasts who’ve never known what it’s like to feel like they belong and have kept their distance all their lives just to make other people feel comfortable.

Here’s to the people who smile even when they want to cry and say they’re fine when they’re not even close.

Here’s to the people who have to socialize every day even though their lives are controlled by irrational anxiety.

Here’s to the people who’ve hurt themselves or attempted suicide because sometimes life just makes the struggle that unbearable.

Here’s to the people who have lost someone who made their world go round and had to sit through a funeral when they really just felt like screaming.

Here’s to the boys who feel like they have to be tough and strong and masculine so they don’t ever cry in front of people.

Here’s to the people who never felt right in their bodies and were relieved when they realized they could do something about it.

Here’s to the people who have sat in therapy sessions feeling broken and worthless and frustrated.

Here’s to the people who have looked in the mirror and hated what they’ve seen.

Here’s to the people who have struggled to eat or struggled to control their eating only to get made fun of for being too skinny or too fat.

Here’s to the kids who never knew real family for whatever reason and wish they knew what that kind of love was like.

Here’s to the kids who have to celebrate their abusive parents once or twice a year just because they “gave you life”.

Here’s to the kids who grew up having to raise their siblings because their parents never did anything.

Here’s to the people who made mistakes in their life that rip them apart every day and define the rest of their lives.

Here’s to the people who face stereotypes and slurs and prejudice every single day just because of their skin color or gender.

Here’s to the people who think they aren’t valid or loved and still have to find their place in this world.

Here’s to anyone who needed this. I’m proud of you.