Listen, Haku. I don’t remember it, but my mom told me… Once, when I was little, I fell into a river. She said they’d drained it and built things on top. But I’ve just remembered. The river was called… Its name was the Kohaku River. Your real name is Kohaku.
1. Ignore your feelings when they say to put walls … and actively decide to build a bridge instead.
2. Don’t compare yourself to others, or attack yourself. Appreciate your talents and the things that make you “you.”
3. Pay attention to your thoughts when you feel anxious or afraid. Imagine being successful, and relaxed, and popular.
4. Focus on what’s best in others; validate their gifts and strengths.
5. Avoid touchy topics; don’t be boring or offensive; and notice when it’s time to let another take the stage.
6. Try to focus more on others and the things that interest them. Avoid the trap of talking about me, me, me!
7. Be genuine and real – as that puts others at their ease … and others are more likely to be natural as well.
Distance is hard, there’s no doubt about it, but why people don’t think someone is worth it is beyond me. Why someone would rather settle for someone who is near because they just like their embrace for the moment is beyond me. Why someone would rather be constantly put in pain just because that person is close is beyond me. Find someone who matters, and who cares if they’re a few hours away? Who cares if they’re a few states over? Or maybe even further? If that person makes you happier than you’ve ever been before please don’t settle for less. If that person makes you laugh at every person who ever made you sad then you keep that person. Because maybe they are a distance away right now but remember distance is temporary. Maybe tonight you can’t hold them and kiss them. Maybe tomorrow you can’t wake up to their face and their morning breath. But who says that in a few years, or maybe even months, you won’t be so happy, living in a house and spending the rest of your life with them? Distance is hard, no doubt, but damn, it’s so worth it.
