The cycle of hurt people blindly hurting others continues endlessly until someone decides to lay down their weapon in forgiveness and take off their blindfold in humility. Yes, it hurts even more to humble yourself after you’ve been wounded, and no it’s not fair but it’s the only way to end the cycle.

If you would have asked a young me to envision my family portrait at my age now, it would not have looked like this.

“As the traveler began his journey, he came to the entrance of the path piled with the skeletons of travelers before him who saw how tough the journey was ahead and decided to wait for it too clear. They waited and waited for the ancient ones, Fear, Worry, Confusion, Doubt, & Loneliness, to clear the path, but they never leave and never sleep. So the travelers waited in comfort until they slowly rotted away.

Every good moment I had this month was from being in nature. Exploring, relaxing, enjoying fresh air.

Every bad moment I had this month was from being on my phone. Feeling outrage over things I would have never even known existed if I wasn’t scrolling.

Everyone feels the need to give their take on every new “hot topic,” and I have become addicted to turning to the internet to figure out just how I should feel about an event.

My mental health is more important than the dopamine hit from a screen. Repeat after me: My mental health is more important than the dopamine hit from a screen.