The past year hasn’t been easy for any of us. We’ve been forced to adjust to enormous lifestyle changes, which have impacted our lives in ways we could never have imagined. We’ve been unable to see our loved ones for months, schools have been closed and our physical and mental health has suffered. I, and so many others, have really struggled. There have been days where I felt like I didn’t want to be here anymore, where I felt so trapped and suffocated that I thought the pain would never end. Sometimes my eyes have been so tightly shut that I have been unable to see the patches of light that wait at the end of the tunnel. I have friends and family who are here for me, and I am eternally grateful that I have had the luck to escape relatively unscathed from this pandemic. And yet, every day when I look at the news, I am reminded of the atrocity and inhumanity of the world, of the terrible things that are happening and will always happen. But I must remember that, on this planet, there are so many little things that make me happy. Reading a good book. Writing a poem. Listening to music. Stroking my cat. Eating chocolate. The small, insignificant moments in our days that actually carry more significance than we could ever imagine. For they are the things that keep us sane and rooted, the things that bring us joy among the tears. 

Not every day will be easy. Some days, we will want to scream and hit something and crawl into a corner and cry. Others, we will wake up and see the sun and be filled with hope that today will be better. We will make it better. The only way you can change things in your life is by changing them. So do just that. Make positive changes to ensure that we can go on living, that we do go on. Maybe that means having a few minutes every day to think and reflect, or to pray if you are religious. Maybe it entails going on a walk with a family member or friend or dog. Maybe it simply means smiling more often, laughing more loudly. Lockdown, although it has been terrible is some respects, has also given us time to pause and wonder about our lives, about what is best for us.  

Even when things seem at their toughest, or you think you simply cannot do it anymore, just close your eyes and go to a place where you feel happy. Talk to someone you love, watch a film or maybe even have a good cry. If there’s one thing I want you to take from this article, it is this: you are not alone. What you’re feeling is human and, while it may be scary, it is valid. Things can only get better.

Just remember: without the dark, we could never see the stars. 

Some great websites and apps for helping to feel better are: 

Headspace: https://www.headspace.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw4v2EBhCtARIsACan3nymAOQGYsRuPK-YkAR-rvz7iPap6FTx5LEr1ZracmzUrfaTpovO1eIaAvEREALw_wcB 

Other resources: http://mindfulnessforteens.com/resources/ 

If you have serious concerns about your mental health or you are feeling like you need expert help, talk to a trusted adult (doctor, parent or teacher) or use one of the services below: 

Childline: 0800 1111 https://www.childline.org.uk/ 

Young minds: https://youngminds.org.uk/