An Open Letter to the Guy Who Set The Bar High

To the guy who set the bar high for my dating life:

     You probably won't ever read this, but I'm still gonna say it. But even then, you probably still wouldn't know that this is about you. I've told you to your face (well actually over text) how I feel. And I can't say that the feelings I'm currently having are permanent, but for now, you've set the bar high.
     I came to this conclusion after thinking about why I don't date someone. While it's true that I've thought guys were cute and tried to "talk" to them, inside I back out and find some little thing that makes me say, "I can't do this. This isn't gonna work out." It could be as tiny as him liking country music or he asks me too personal questions. But why?! Why do I let these little things get in the way of what could be a good guy?! The answer is: you.
     So what is it about you that attracts me to you? The main thing is that we just connect and I feel comfortable around you. That doesn't happen! I'm not gonna act like it was an instant connection. When we met almost 3 years ago, I just saw you as the class clown of the place. As of maybe a year and a half, we started getting closer. Both of our walls were broken down. I opened up to you about my past. You told me all about your past. And we've even expressed to each other that we know each other better than anyone else in our lives, including our closest friends and family. You're the guy I couldn't go a day without talking to for months. You were the first text when I was having a panic attack. You were the first person I texted when I just needed someone to talk to or had a funny story to tell. Because you get me! I don't have to fake it with you.
      Are you my "perfect guy"? No. But then again, is there such a thing? So then why aren't we dating? Well the answer is simple, I think: you're not into me in the same way I'm into you. When I told you that I had a crush on you, your response wasn't judgemental. In fact, it was sweet. I remember you saying, "Why were you nervous to tell me? Why did it take you this long? We tell each other everything. I would never make things weird." That's paraphrased, but those were basically your words. To the normal person, that would've been seen as you being interested. But like I said, I know you. And I know that I'm not your type. We constantly have conversations about both of us being single and when we're interested in other people. Although, it's mostly you telling me about the newest girl you think is cute and why she's "out of your league". But it's that kind of thing that keeps the crush around I think.
       You're not like any other guy. You've got this goofy, sensitive side to you that makes you even more attactive. You're no Ryan Gosling, but you've got your own cuteness about you. It's something that most people don't see unless they really know you. I mean I know things about you that even your roommate doesn't know. But it's that level of trust that's kept our friendship strong.
       Speaking of friendship, I think that factor plays a lot into why I have an "on and off crush" on you. You're one of my closest guy friends, closest friend in general actually. It's one of those things where my perfect type is like my best friend, but also I don't want to ruin an epic friendship by trying out the whole dating thing (if that were even an option in your book). Like I said before, you're the person I go to for everything. From relationship advice, to good laughs, to rant sessions, and even fashion advice. We're not the standard guy-girl friendship!
       But I see the real you. I even see things that you can't see yourself. Not only are you hilarious, but you're sassy, funny, kind, caring, compassionate, hardworking, and passionate. You melt when you see a cute kid. You put other's feelings before your own. You do anything to make someone smile. You have a heart of gold! And yet, you look at yourself and just see a sappy guy who makes jokes and gets swept under the rug. But you don't give yourself the credit you deserve. You're one of the best people I know!
        Here's the thing, and the main point of this article, you have ruined my standards of what I'm looking for in a guy. I thought my standards were high before, but I'm looking for someone like you. Someone who cares about others and doesn't take life too seriously. Someone that I have tons of things in common with, and yet who is the opposite of me in every other way. Sure, I'm also searching for a guy who is way more in tuned with his relationship with Christ than you are. But overall, I've realized that you are basically as close to my type as I think I'll ever find, at least in Kentucky.
         As I'm writing this, I know that we have limited time to hang out together before you graduate and get a job outside of the state. And I know that we'll stop talking as much. I'll maybe see you once every few months if you come in and actually stop by. So, I'm taking the time to sort out these feelings and realize that the possibility that we will end up together is slim to none. I mean things could happen, but it's very unlikely. And hopefully you'll find yourself a girl who treats you well and is the right person for you wherever you get a job. Do I wish you didn't have to go out of state? Yes. But things will be easier and I'll just have to get used to doing life without you only a half hour away and getting to hang out at least once a week. But you know my thoughts. And who knows, maybe I can find someone at least half as great as you.
        Well I said it. You're the reason why I have high standards. So thank you sir! In all reality, I wish things would work out for us. But I'm also glad to have a friend as great as you, and I want us to stay this way for as long as we can. Thanks for everything!

Sincerely,
The Girl with High Standards and A Great Guy Friend

The Importance of Mental Health

"On and on
Like we're living on a broken record
Hope is strong
But misery's a little quicker
Sit and we wait and we drown there
Thinking why I bother playing when it's unfair
They say life's a waste
I say they lack believe
They tell me luck will travel
I tell them that's why I've got feet
Left, right
Left, right
Moving along, just the pulse of a heartbeat
This could be the last chance you have to fly
Do you like the ground?
Want it to pass you by?
Then you had it all
When you were just a kid
Do you even remember who you were back then?
What do you want in life?
Would you be twice as strong?
What would you sacrifice?
What are you waiting on?
Don't stop
March on"
- Paradise Fears, "Battle Scars"

     My favorite band, Paradise Fears, wrote the lyrics above in one of their songs called "Battle Scars", as you can probably guess. From the moment I heard this song, it stuck with me. It even inspired my first tattoo. It's about not being afraid to hurt, because you're not alone. Everyone struggles. Nobody is perfect. And I've related more and more to this song recently.
       Over the past few months, I realized that I have anxiety. And I even experienced my first major panic attack, which I didn't realize what it was until one of my roommate's pointed it out, who also struggles with major anxiety. I always chalked it up to just stress. But that's not what it was at all. And my way of dealing was just push it down and ignore it. That was until I learned to recognize it for what it was, and recognized that I'm not the only one who experiences it.
        Yesterday was National Mental Health Day. It was a day when I reflected on the ups and downs of my mental health. I reflected on seeing and helping my friends and family get through hard mental struggles. But I actually have been thinking about my mental health, personally, more than just yesterday; it's been happening going on a lot in the past month.
        It started when Shawn Mendes came out with his new song "In My Blood". The song starts out like, "Help me. It's like the walls are caving in. Sometimes I feel like giving up, but I just can't. It isn't in my blood." I related to those lyrics more than I realized. At the time, that's how I was feeling in my current situation. I couldn't explain it much. I just felt like everything was caving in on me all at once, while I was trying to balance everything and try to please everyone else around me. And at this time, I only made my feelings known, to an extent, to a few people. (Until I exploded online, and had to immediately delete a former post that a couple of you may have seen before I took it down.) Let's just say, I wasn't in the best mental health.
        But I'm finally starting to feel more like me again. I'm in a good state of mind. And I can tell the difference in how I'm treating others as well. 
         So how did I cope with my stress and anxiety when I was in my this bad place? I actually did a couple of things. First, I listened to music on Spotify. Oddly enough, my go-to calm down music is All Time Low. Don't ask me why that calms me down so well! Secondly, I went to God. As cheesy as it may sound, I would pray, and sometime scream in my head, for God to take the anxiety away and put me in a better mood. Both of these helped in their own way.
          Back to the quote at the beginning of this post, I think that it's important to touch upon why it's okay to not be okay. Obviously, it's true that you should always try to be in a great mood mentally and emotionally. But it's okay to have hard times. After all, the "battle scars" are what make us who we are.  If you get a chance, I encourage you to listen to the song, and the entire album in fact.
         If you struggle with mental health in any way (i.e. stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar, etc.), just know that you aren't alone. Someone else could be struggling with the same thing, just maybe in a different way. It's okay to talk to someone. Don't ever think that you're a burden! I'm here to talk if you need to talk. So here's to a happy belated national mental health day. And here's to accepting yourself for all of your good and bad days. 


Live for God & Love for Music!
- Patience 💙😊