T - Times are tough but you are tougher

T - Times are tough but you are tougher

Today is a tricky day for my friendship group and my school community. It's not my place to say why, but I feel it is my place to say that it is TOUGH. So tough. There have been tears, and cross words, and people fleeing rooms, and the ' I know today is hard for you, should I acknowledge that or ignore it' looks. That sounds precise, but trust me those looks are distinguishable. So, yeah, it has been tough. You get it. I get it. Cool.

But you see, much like my post about opportunity for optimism, tough times aren't tougher than you! One of my favourite quotes is :

Because it's just so damn true.

We are tough! As a race, we are tough. 

As is part of life, we experience tough times. Broken marriages, death, bad exam grades, arguments, destroying wildlife, wars, the store being out of our favourite ice cream. On whatever scale, life is tough, and we can't deny it.

But here is a reminder. You are tougher. Tougher than your trouble and torment.

All those hard days you've had so far? You've survived them all. Every single one. There were tears, and bad thoughts, most prominently 'I can't go on'. But you did. You are here. You made it, and we are so lucky to have you. Your presence blesses so many people on this earth. Has already, and will in the future. 

You are great, strong, kind, funny, and annoying - all these things make you you!

Times are tough, but you are tougher. 

You are your own biggest critic, and you must recognise that.

So this time, try and combat the critic you give yourself - you aren't doing half as bad as you think you are. You are tougher.

-An Alphabet of Thoughts