Alone = Lonely ?

2013 was a rough year for me. A lot of things went down that year. It was a year filled with dark moments, sad songs and gray days. But it was also filled with a lot of laughter, long-lasting friendships and a ton of sunshine. Through the weak moments, the endless disappointments and the anguish, it all made me a much stronger person. I also realized who are real. I now know who will always be there, who will stand up for me and who will make me smile when I didn't want to.

This is a paragraph I wrote in my other blog a while back, I wanted to share it with you:

"You, who have had to pick yourselves up and carry on. You, who stay strong and still believe in yourselves, even though it might be hard at times. Don't let anyone tell you what you've been through is not as bad as something someone else has gone through. Nobody could ever know how you felt in a particular situation, everyone is different. No matter if it was a bad break-up, your parents divorcing, the death of a loved one, being bullied or you're just simply feeling a bit blue for some reason. Whatever you're going through, or have gone through in  the past, just know that no matter what it is, you'll be okay. You'll survive.

I myself am going through something right now, where it kind of feels like everything is against me. But I am determined to succeed, I have ambition and I am strong and I am good enough."

What I want to say is, be strong. Whatever happens, there are people out there who can and want to help. Don't be afraid to ask for it. No one should ever have to go through something rough alone. 

With that said, there's something else that is important to remember. 'Cause even though you may have your friends, you have your family and you're not really alone, you can still be lonely. It's a horrible feeling, believe me, I know. There was a moment in late November last year, when I really felt like I was the only one in the world. It was not a pleasant feeling. But my brother said something to me, that really stuck with me since then: "Don't forget that the best thing to do is to get comfortable with loneliness, master it, THEN look for social pleasure." 

I've been trying to live with these words ever since then. And I'm telling you to do the same. Basically, in the end, you'll stand alone. When you stand in front of a crossroads and you have to make a difficult decision, YOU are the one who will have to make them. Remember that, and you will be happier. 

xx Mitra