Walk the world with your chin held high,
endless bounce in your step,
fire in your eyes.
Let your heart guide you,
but don’t allow your emotions to
make you lose sight of the logical.
Words can cut
but don’t let them scar.
Dreams can be temporarily forgotten
but don’t them die.
You may be beaten down,
time and time again,
but keep fighting
until your final breath.
Show compassion to all those that you meet,
for there may be some unseen tumult
within them.
Cherish your relationships
and those who you encounter-
each one has a lesson to teach you.
Find peace with yourself
and with your past;
the future holds so much more weight
than 7th grade ever did.
Find joy in the moment,
in the little things.
Take in the sights,
the smells,
the noises.
The world will only remain this way
for a single, fleeting moment.
And strive to experience happiness
in all that you do,
for to be truly happy
is the greatest gift of all.