Stay true to yourself, because there are very few people who will always be true to you

You may think everyone has the same heart as you, and that's what's gonna fuck you up. You'll be crowned the most disappointed person of the year if you live your life thinking people will do the same for you, as you do for them. It is simply naive.

You'll learn through the years, that not everyone will invest as much in you, as you invest in them. That some people won't care as much as you do, or even be willing to show you the same respect in return. In fact, some people will not give a damn shit about you at all.

Don't let this wear you down. The important thing is that you through your actions and investments in others have been true to yourself, true to your values and what you believe in. Being yourself as a genuine human being can never be wrong, and is never a loss. Not being granted in return whatever you give does not leave you a poorer person, quite the opposite - standing solid on your moral ground regardless is of priceless value, both to your conscience and your integrity. I am of that perception that if you stay true to yourself and your inner spark in whatever situation you're in, you'll never have regrets - no matter what the outcome.

I simply live by the rule that if I got something to give, I give it, whether or not it grants me anything in return. Regardless, the gesture itself is to me the most valuable - to have contributed as a fellow human being. To have done what I in my heart think is right. Some may see me as too emotionally invested, or even extremely "uncool" for not keeping up today's trendy fasade as an unconcerned and unattainable woman, but hell, I'm for a warmer society and being a good animal on this planet. I'm not going to sacrifice that for anything or anyone. And if who I am isn't good enough or appreciated by the people around me - I simply change the people around me.

Life is all about being true to yourself and what you believe in, at all times, even when it's not trendy. No matter how you are living your life - if you are real, genuine and unapologetically yourself, the right people will respect you. And the wrong people... well, they're irrelevant.

The highest courage is to dare to be yourself in the face of adversity

The human race is a herd. Here we are, unique, eternal aspects of consciousness with an infinity of potential, and we have in many ways allowed ourselves to become an unthinking, unquestioning blob of conformity and uniformity. A herd. Once we concede to the herd mentality, we can be controlled and directed by a tiny few. And we are.

Wake up! Take a deep dive within yourself - who are you really? What do you need? What matters to you? You shouldn't be comparing or competing with others, nor should you be struggling to impress anyone or seek confirmation and acceptance by trying to be anything else but yourself. If you are; jump off the carousel and stop that absurdity this instant. Free yourself! The unhappiest people in this world are those who care the most about what anyone else thinks of them. What other people think of you simply shouldn't be any of your fucking business.

Trust me when I say that one of the greatest mental freedoms is truly not caring about what anyone else thinks of you - personally I'd rather be someone's shot of whiskey than everyone's cup of tea. So someone out there doesn't like you? Fine, not your problem. We are not designed to be compatible with everyone anyway.

Accept no one's definition of your life, but define yourself. Focus on being you, doing your own thing, and let yourself blossom in your own unique way. There is a vitality, a life force, an energy that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. If you block it, it will never exist through any other medium - and it'll be lost. Remember; in diversity there is beauty, and there is strength. All the charm and all the beauty of life are made up of light and shade.

Always be a first rate version of yourself, there is no one better at it than you. Don't ever downgrade yourself to be a second rate version of someone else - what the hell's the point? Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world really needs, is people who have truly come alive.

Accept, own and never compromise yourself, 'cause honestly;

in a world where everything comes and goes and nothing ever is for certain, you are really all you have.

The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence

I'd rather struggle every day of my life to get what I have, than to ever give someone the power to say: "You wouldn't have that if it wasn't for me." I prefer to be my own experiment. My own work of art. The things I treasure most in life cannot be taken away - they exist within me, as building blocks of my own inner universe.

And how to be happy? Learn to never need or depend on anyone else but yourself, and don't expect a goddamn thing - not from anyone. People will let you down, and promises will be broken. Simply expect less from others, and more from yourself. Don't wait for someone to bring you flowers; plant your own. Because at the end of the day, the only one you can truly trust and depend on, is yourself.

Find confidence within your soul and build yourself as a solid empire of your own values, of your own strength, of what inspires and what drives you, on independent ground. Be your own mentor, your own hero. Never underestimate yourself and what you're capable of. Whether you think you can, or you think you can't - you're right.

Since childhood I've cultivated an existential independence, which I will forever wholeheartedly treasure. Admittedly this came from perceiving the adults and everything else around me as unreliable, and without it I simply wouldn't have survived - I had no other choice but depending on myself, and myself only. But! Although it was in no way an ideal way to grow up - I'm not gonna deny it was a living hell at times - it made me who I am today; it made me an independent soul. It made me a fighter. And for that I am eternally grateful.

Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I built my life. It taught me not to take anything for granted, and to make the most of what I've got. It blessed me with the capability to see and truly appreciate the smallest pleasures and true values in life - which enriches my existence immensly.

Remember: It's not about the hand you're dealt, but how you play the cards.
Turn your curses into blessings and never allow yourself to become a victim - be a fighter.