Who ever knew letters which seem so harsh at first could be so truly inspiring?

The last few weeks I have been taking into account some things a friend sent to me in a prose; and with great results. Instead of looking negatively at my image in a mirror when trying on things in a shop and only thinking negatively, I've started looking at the overall picture; and how it is actually looking quite good.

No, I'm not being egotistical; that's not me. Instead I'm using a more mentally healthy way of looking at things in life (and myself for that matter) and seeing that everything is so much more beautiful than how I've been seeing it for years. Before the letter I'd changed my thinking, let go of some things that I'd been hanging on to for too long and was not in a great state of mind (as you probably know if you've read some of my previous posts.) Sure, it's taken me a few weeks to see the true beauty in the letter, but especially after the past 48 hours, I've been looking at things from a wholistically new and improved perspective; and I'm LOVING it!!!

The biggest lessons I've learnt in the past few months (well, the last few weeks in particular) are the following:

1. To live and let live.
• Sure, life throws you curveballs and sometimes dodging them or dealing with the aftermath is a little tough, but it becomes so much easier if you actually let people help you. The really important part about dealing with curveballs is remembering that once they've gone, they've gone and it's time to let go of them. No use hanging on to baggage, it's only holding you down; no one else.
2. Listening to advice and accepting support from others when they give it to you.
• Advice is something that people often give you because they have seen or experienced something that has led them to have that wisdom. Sure the advice might be hard to take on board at first, but mull it over; soon you'll see the wisdom behind the advice and realise just how valuable it truly is. Taking onboard advice is completely worthless though unless you decide to put the advice into some type of action. Accepting advice without then taking action is just like having a Tim Tam without chocolate; the true value of it just isn't there.
• If it's one very important lesson I've learnt in the time since I've left school, it's accepting the care and support of others when they give it to you. Sure, at first it's natural to try to be polite and say no; but if you're truly honest with yourself, you will realise that you're only going to regret not accepting that support. If not for accepting the support of others, I'd have never made it out of my old hometown let alone getting to become the person I am today and being moderately ok financially. 
• Accepting advice and support from others not only boosts your confidence, but it also boosts their confidence as well! Remember this next time you think about saying no.
3. When things get tough, remember it's just a patch; things will get better.
• Not everything in life is hard, negative, sad, lame or inaccessible. Even if things seem tough right now, or even the foreseeable future, remember it's only a patch. Better things ARE to come! I promise you!
4. Never take anything for granted
• You never know when it will be taken away from you. Quite often you don't realise how much something or someone means to you until they are gone. Take the opportunity to thank any one and everyone for the part they play in your life, and to appreciate what it is you have now. It will put a smile on not only your face, but your positive attitude will radiate out of you into others around you helping them to feel better. <3
5. Friends are the siblings God forgot to give you.
• Cherish them.