"As you get older you will gain a bit more control over everything. Don't let anyone, even your parents, break you. Find good people who care about you and surround yourself with just them. If you can't find them at first, find good music and fall into it and let it hold you until they come..."

-Davey Havok 

I have spoken a lot lately about expelling negativity and allowing yourself to be surrounded by positivity and it is something that is ever prominent in my life. As I grow older I'm becoming more secure within myself and allowing only positive people into my life is helping with this. 

There are two people in my life that would never suspect that they have such a tremendous effect on my self-esteem. They are just two people that I work with once or twice a week in a little pizza shop, but when I am with them there is never a dull moment. I have known for a long time that they are fun and lovely people but it was only last night, when we laughed so hard that my chest felt like it might cave in, that I realised that when I am with them I am fun as well. These two people probably can't even imagine my weaker sides as every time I am with them I myself can't even fathom anything less than the extreme confidence and happiness that I feel.

I think that it's important for your best friends not to be "yes" people, at least not to you anyway. Your best and closest friends need to be people who challenge you and make you better. Just a few days ago while driving two of my best friends to the movies the first in the car for the ride pointed out on more than one occasion that our conversations would quickly become very heavy (as we spoke about concentration camps and questioned our responses to potential inhumane treatment of our loved ones). The three of us are different people and I think that's important in the dynamics of our relationship.We need people to challenge us and be critical of our views or we may remain stagnant in our world views. 

Another of my best friends is someone that I know I can call at three in the morning when I am having a hard time and she will be my by side in an instant. I will be lucky enough to be calling this wonderful human being my roommate in the coming months. She is a girl more wonderful, caring and intelligent than words could ever do justice. She is that person that it is important to have in your life because you would never need to tell them a lie. She is too open minded and supportive to hide any detail from and she is the kind of friend that everyone needs to have in their life.

These are the kind of people that I have been privileged enough to surround yourself with, and although it took some trial and error, I think I have it right this time. Sometimes it is hard to find the people that bring out the best in you, but never stop looking. Sometimes the best way to love yourself is to see others love you first.

If these people are missing from your life know that they will come, provided you keep looking. Forge friends at every opportunity, you can never have too many. In the interim surround yourself with good music and things that you enjoy. There are some songs that it is nigh impossible to feel sad or lonely while listening to.