Give Yourself A Break

I’m hitting the pause button on my podcast and here’s why... 

For the past fifteen months, I’ve invited friends, peers, acquaintances, and sometimes total strangers to sit down and have an undistracted conversation with me. I’ve asked them to share their most personal struggles and greatest triumphs. I’ve listened as these brave souls have opened their hearts and divulged about deeply personal areas of their lives. 

I say it every week: The first thing we discuss is the last thing you wanna talk about.

I began this podcast to help me deal with my own pain. As a lifelong eczema sufferer, (please hold your applause) I wanted to reveal this — the most troubling aspect of my experience. The part that makes me human.

I didn’t always see it that way. When I was younger, I was convinced the world was against me. I was cursed with terrible skin that left me patchy, red, and covered in scabs. I would leave a trail of flakes behind me as if I was scattering bread crumbs to help me find my way home. Sometimes I would be so far gone that puss would ooze out of my face and I would wake up stuck to my pillow. 

Grossed out? Trust me, that’s exactly how I felt.

In the only way I knew how to retaliate, I lashed out at the world with anger and hate. I was determined to make others feel as horrible as I did. When your skin is on fire, it’s difficult to cool down. Moments of joy were few and far between because my moods were dominated by pain and discomfort. 

I used to wish for any other ailment. 

Let me be a dwarf! Or be in a wheelchair! Or have diabetes like my sister! Give me a tail for chrissakes! (Years later I would go on TV wearing one; it’s funny what time will do.)

Why me? That thought permeated my brain throughout the day.

Until a couple of years ago.

Something changed in me. I realized that we all have something that we wish wasn’t there. One major affliction that has caused us pain, grief, and strife. It could be mental, emotional, or physical. But everyone, no matter how perfect and cookie-cutter their lives may seem, has been influenced, structured, and shaped by their Achilles’ Heel.

From the beginning, I knew this podcast would be one of the most important projects I’ve ever created — sorry Pug Yoga! Hearing these intense anecdotes from beautiful, brilliant raconteurs has a profound effect on not only my mental health but on how I view my own disease. 

In almost 100 hours of conversation, I’ve learned about issues I never would have imagined.

Some were completely new to me like Hashimoto’s Disease or Marfan Syndrome. 

Some surprised me like guilt, rejection, control, indecision. 

There were many issues I suffer from as well -- like sugar, negativity, and resistance. 

In some episodes, my guests and I would be laughing our asses off only to stumble into something traumatic a few moments later. We’d find ourselves holding hands as we cried together. 

Guests have told me about being in jail, psychiatric units, and mental institutions. They’ve selflessly recounted stories of watching loved ones abandon them, disappear -- even die. They’ve opened up about the darkest holes of depression, anxiety, and every addiction the Betty Ford Clinic has ever seen. 

It’s like a twisted Little Mermaid song. I’ve got insecurity, poverty, and epilepsy. Sex Addiction and OCD galore! Suicide Attempts? I’ve got twenty, but who cares, no big deal, I want moooooooore. 

By revealing all of these obstacles -- both apparent and clandestine -- by putting them on the table and speaking candidly, we all managed to grow and come out stronger than before.

Early on, I started referring to my listeners as “Heelers.”

Yes, it’s a play on words but it’s also stunningly accurate.

Every guest and I have healed together. Sometimes accidentally, sometimes on purpose. But aside from us, every listener has healed by making room in their lives for these discussions. My guests and I have received so many gorgeous, honest messages about what it means to have these vulnerable stories out in the ether. 

This podcast has taught me a lot. 

We are all so beautiful. And we are all so fucked up. 

In our pain lies our beauty. Every human struggles. Every human hurts. And all of us, no matter what, fight on and do our goddamn best. 

There are days we feel overwhelmed, scared, and downright — fuck it all — I don’t want to do this anymore! BUT we need those days. Out of the darkness comes the light or some other metaphorical bullshit I heard in a movie.

I have to pause the podcast. A global pandemic is forcing me too. But even before that, a break was in the works.

I’ve been spreading myself too thin and some bigger ventures are going to require a lot of my attention. Coronavirus just confirmed that it was the necessary decision. 

This break is not the end. Let’s just call it Season 1. I love this project and what it means to me has become deeply personal. Anyone with a podcast will tell you to never stop. Consistency is key.

I’m not worried.

I’ll bring it back and it will be stronger than ever. I’ve never been more motivated in my life to achieve my dreams. 

If you’re still here, thank you.

If you’ve listened, thank you.

If you haven’t, well hell, there are 60-something episodes and I mean when I say, they are timeless. We aren’t talking about politics or the news of the day, we are talking about LIFE. Plus, you’ve got some downtime. Give it a try.

I want you all to know something. If you’re reading this, you’re on the ground floor of a building that is going to touch the sky. Construction crews are working overtime and moving faster than ever. 

During these odd, long days, check-in with yourself. What do you need to focus on? What have you been putting off? Reading, meditation, calling a loved one or someone you’ve hurt? The world is giving you a break. Practicing self-care and compassion is more important now than ever. 

Be kind to yourself and others. Feel free to send me a message about how you’re feeling or what you’re doing to stay entertained. In other words...

Break it down tell me how you feel ‘cuz we all have our own Achilles’ Heel. 

11 Ways to Turn Your Quarantine Into a Music Festival

Fuuuuuuck. 

That’s truly the only way to start this. 

You’re out of work and stuck at home for the foreseeable future. Every trip to the grocery store feels like you’re being shipped off to Vietnam. All of a sudden toilet paper is more valuable than the Hope Diamond. You’re going stir-crazy and on top of that, every music festival for the next few months is postponed or canceled. 

You’ve worked hard this year. You’ve patiently waited for your opportunity to truly act a fool. And now a global pandemic is threatening not only your way of life but your actual life.

Have no fear my fellow weirdos! 

We may not be able to travel, but I’ve navigated the circuits of my brain and figured out how you can live out your desert dance floor dreams from the comfort of your home. It may not be exactly the same as tripping in the forest with your favorite humans, but desperate times call for desperate... something.

Follow these basic steps and when we all gather again, you’ll be more prepared than ever.

1. Couch-Chella

Can’t make it out to the polo fields this year? Wasn’t SXSW too expensive anyway? Who cares! You can have a similar experience without ever leaving your living room. On the beautiful world of YouTube, there are literally thousands of sets from your favorite bands and DJs. Fire up your computer, Apple TV, or projector (for the true ballers) and turn down the lights. Not only can you experience the magic, but you can actually see what’s going on! 

So many times there is a brilliant production happening on stage and you’re stuck in the back, unable to see the incredible work that was put into the performance. With CouchChella, you have a close-up view of the stage and often from a variety of angles. You won’t even smell the vomit from that amateur next to you who thought it was a good idea to chug tequila at 2 PM in the 97-degree heat.

For a next-level setup, add your own lighting with a star machine or any other multi-color lights you have laying around. Order some small inflatable palm trees or use your own house plants in front of the screen to really feel like you’re soaking up the desert vibes. 

2. Facetime Fashion Show

Part of the fun of a festival is putting together outfits that in the default world seem outlandish. I comb through Goodwill and vintage stores for the most bizarre pieces I can find.

A 6-year old’s neon bathrobe turns into an incredible blazer for an adult man. A flashy grandma’s floral workout pants will go perfectly with a fur coat and flower crown. Many of my friends even make one-of-a-kind pieces and they become original pieces of art. 

Obviously you don’t want to miss out on this creativity. And now you don’t have to!

Schedule a time for an online meeting so you can have the fashion show of your dreams. Clear some space in your apartment, set up a runway with bath towels, put on your wildest wears, and strut your fucking heart out. 

3. Create Your Own Sound Bath

One of my favorite things to do at a festival is to participate in a healing sanctuary. I’ve done Laugh Yoga, painting class, non-sexual group massage, and of course my favorite, the sound bath.

If you’ve never been to a sound bath what happens is a sound healer plays a variety of instruments that create vibrations throughout your body. As you sit or lay on the ground, the different frequencies shake up your energy and transport you to a place of pure relaxation. You can always find virtual sound baths online, but this is your time to get creative.

Maybe you don’t have a didgeridoo or copper bowls. Grab a wooden spoon and a cheese grater and scrape away. Blow into an empty water jug as you hold it directly over your roommate or partner. Flip through the pages of a thick book so it makes the sound of leaves in the wind. Hell, even turn on your vacuum cleaner and run it all around their body. 

Don’t worry if you aren’t a musician. I’ve never learned to play a single instrument. There are infinite ways to make interesting noises. Experiment with things all over your home and see what works for you. If you do it right, you can truly release the anxiety this crazy time is bringing. 

4. Learn New Dance Moves

If you’re anything like me, you absolutely love to dance. Without any formal training (other than learning the waltz in high school theatre class), I simply let go of my inhibitions and let the music inspire my body to move. People often think I look ridiculous (fuck those people) but also they probably aren’t wrong. 

As long as you’re having fun, it truly doesn’t matter how the funk makes you groove. But sometimes you see someone out there that truly has rhythm and you think, “now that guy looks good.”

With all this downtime, become that guy! Go on youtube and watch tutorials of how to do basic dance steps. You’d be amazed how easily you’ll go from “Wow look at that guy!” to “WOW LOOK AT THAT GUY!!” Notice the difference? Of course, you do. Now string together some combinations and next time when the circle starts up, you’ll be the first one to dive in and show those rookies how it’s done. 

5. Research the Artists

We all know this is temporary. Eventually, we will be traveling the exosphere together in perfect unity. So now that you know you have months before your next festival, listen to every goddamn artist on the lineup. 

Get the most out of your Spotify or Apple Music subscription and dig deep into a plethora of new music. 

You know the tiny print on the bottom of a lineup that looks like a vision test? Those people earned the right to be there. At one point, that was Radiohead. How cool does it feel to say you saw someone before they blew up?

If a lineup is already out, more than likely someone already made a playlist for it. Find those or make your own! My friends and I have one group thread for whatever, and another one solely dedicated to new music discoveries. With 40 of us contributing, there’s never a lack of diversity. I highly encourage this to keep you feeling fresh and excited.

6. Strategize Your Camping Setup

Tired of your boring old cookie-cutter tent with the singular lightbulb hanging down? Let’s spruce it up! No doubt you’ve walked through the campgrounds at a festival and seen some epic ideas that took your breath away. Often they aren’t very complicated. 

Some simple fairy lights make an entry so much more inviting. A flag coming off the top will allow you to always spot your home base. Think about different tapestries to surround your pop-up. 

At the burn, a few of my friends built a monkey hut out of a tarp and PVC pipes. They quickly realized it looked like a giant caterpillar so they added antennae to one end. Suddenly some crude materials became a 30 ft long bug.

If you’ve got the space, set it up in your apartment or backyard and treat yourself to a night of at-home camping. Play terrible music way too loud from a close distance so you can even yell at the imaginary bros who only came to get laid. It’s your experience. Own it!

7. Get Crafty

For most of us, festivals mean it’s crunch time. You’ve been working non-stop, finishing up deadlines, and trying to find someone to feed your animals while you’re gone. You wanted to make a cool totem but never found a few spare hours in your day. Well, here they are! 

We’ve all seen something homemade at a festival that we wished we had thought of. Maybe it’s a giant printout of Nicholas Cage’s weird face. Maybe it’s a street sign crossing where one says “HERE” and the other says “NOW.” 

Whatever it is, this is your opportunity to distract yourself from the news and dig into that odds and ends drawer that you blindly throw things into. Grab some glitter, construction paper, string lights, and a pool noodle and go to town. See what you don’t need and instead of throwing it away, repurpose it. You have no idea how easily an old-shirt becomes a grocery bag. 

8. Stop Showering

Nothing makes you feel like you’re partying your face off more than a nice layer of dust and crust. That gross feeling when you wake up in your tent and you’ve got a thick layer of grime all over you? Sure, it’s nasty but it’s a badge of honor at a festival. I’m not saying to never bathe again, but maybe go three or four days without it. You’re not venturing out much anyway so let that sweat shine while adding some stink to your kink.

9. Festival Food Cooking Class

We all have our favorites! For me, its Spicy Pie pizza at Coachella or Buddha Bowls at Desert Hearts. Something about these flavors makes me know that I’ve relocated to Party Town. But who says you have to buy these things from a makeshift hut? 

Especially with grocery stores being a grab-what-you-can-and-take-no-prisoners war zone, it’s time to make do and figure out some new recipes. What makes you happy when you’re raging? What gives you energy? Smoothies, dumplings, a giant burrito that looks like it could be someone’s leg.

Don’t be afraid. Cooking is easier than you think. Just follow the recipe and don’t cover yourself in oil before you light a match. 

10. Recreate the Parking Lot

You know that beautiful feeling when you arrive at a festival? You’re amped! You’re fired up! You’re ready for the weekend of a lifetime! Just kidding, there’s a 4-hour line to get in. BOOOOOOO! 

This is often a necessary part of the experience and one you are sure to miss. But have no fear, my dusty shuffler. This part is easier than ever. All you have to do is get in your car and sit there. That’s it! Put on some music or a podcast if you’d like, but literally you are doing it! Wait until you absolutely feel like there will be no end, then go inside your home. 

If you’re smart, leave a playlist and some trippy lights on for when you walk back in and it will feel like you arrived at the festival. Put on something fun and dance it out. Your weekend is ready to begin.

11. Do All The Drugs*

Honestly, I could have started with this but then you’d be too high to read the rest of the list. If you’re a planner, you had your party supplies ready to go. Good on you if you did, shame on you if you were waiting until the last minute. 

So here we are, quarantined. We can’t go to work. We can’t see our friends. Even a walk in the park is risky. It seems like a great time to go deep and explore yourself. 

Doing drugs at festivals is wonderful. I don’t need to tell you that. But it can also be overwhelming. Instead of taking acid among thousands of people with endless stimulation, put on some beautiful music and allow yourself to relax. Drugs can be used in countless ways and honestly most of them (aside from driving a car or jumping off a bridge to see if you can fly) are beneficial. 

I personally love having a quiet, solo journey through the mind. Or if you’re with a partner, drop that molly and have a dance party. Take away your anxiety by smoking that joint you were saving. However you get weird, this is your time. No one is judging you, and if you have to take a massive dump or throw up, you’re never far away from the bathroom.

At Home Dance Party

In these odd, troubling times. It's OK to feel sad, scared, lonely, anxious, whatever. 

Forgive yourself for eating too much or being on your phone or masturbating multiple times a day. 

Remember what festivals taught you. You are strong, self-reliant, creative, and fun. Quarantine doesn’t change any of that. Use your time wisely, and eventually, I’ll see you out on the dance floor spreading silliness and love. Stay clean.

*At your own risk! Many drugs are illegal and/or dangerous. Remember I’m a comedian, not a doctor or lawyer, dummies.

Commercial Auditions: Quitting Is Easy. Staying in the Game Is Hard

I’ll start with the good news: I booked a national commercial.

Here’s what I probably shouldn’t tell you. The last time this happened was almost ten years ago.

When I first moved to LA, I knew it would be a battle. There are a million crabs in this bucket and every single one is clawing its way to the top, crushing anything that gets in its path.

Somehow I got lucky. Six months into my new life and career, I landed a big commercial. It played for eighteen months and I won’t tell you how much money I made. But I will tell you I could’ve bought a brand new Honda or a decent racehorse (which would have been a brilliant way to bypass LA traffic.)

One year later, I booked another huge spot.

This one was for Hyundai for the Superbowl and they made sure it was seen in the most high-profile settings. The fourth quarter of an extremely tight championship game between the Steelers and the Packers. It ran again right before they announced Best Picture at The Oscars. I was sure that so much exposure would lead to all kinds of jobs. 

Only it didn’t. That was the last time I would act in a commercial until this current one I just shot.

For the next few years, I auditioned for hundreds of commercials. I got callbacks. A lot of them. I was put “on avail” a bunch of times. 

Thoughts of success played over and over again in my brain. 

“Goodbye, peasants! Great knowing you but I’m done with day jobs. From now on, my career can only go up. I’m about to touch the moon!”

But that’s where it stopped. 

So often this invisible hand would dangle a giant bag of money over my head. I could smell those fat green checks filling up my mailbox. I could imagine the financial freedom of all those residuals. I would even play the moment over and over again when I walked away from my day job forever. (Oftentimes in a private plane filled with drugs because fuck it, it’s my fantasy.)

My confidence began to slip. Before every audition, I would tell myself that this is the one. The losing streak is about to be slashed as I land not only a commercial but an entire campaign. I’ll be the new Verizon guy, only people will like me. Years later that changed to being the new Sprint Guy because this business is fickle and unoriginal. 

After a while, it started to wear on me. I got to the point where I figured I would never book a commercial again. I began to wonder what was wrong with me. That being said, I never turned down an audition. 

On one occasion I received a callback for a Sonic ad while I was at Coachella. My agent, being as rad as he is, told me to, “do a little less drugs that night and get back here in the morning.”

And I did. Not the fewer drugs part. I still went hard. I woke up at 6 AM the next morning and drove the two and a half hours back to LA.

“Hi. I’m Alex Hooper and I drove back from Coachella to book this commercial.” The producers laughed and asked if I was serious. 

“100%. And as soon as we’re done here I’m driving right back.”

And I did. I’m that dedicated to my career and music festivals.

I didn’t book it. And by the way, I didn’t even have lines in the callback. I went in, they told me to “react to this thing happening, but don’t do too much.” I did it one time. That was it. Welcome to the wonderful world of advertising.

Over these last ten years, I’ve called in sick to work countless times. I’ve lost thousands of dollars in wages in the hopes that I would win the lottery again.

Because in the end, that’s what commercial auditioning is. It’s a game of luck.

You can be the greatest actor in the world and everyone in the room loves you. Then word comes down from above that they need someone who is 5’9” and you happen to be 5’8”.

Of course, you’ll never find this out. You never learn why you didn’t get something. But that’s part of the lifestyle you signed up for.

It’s all about your look. You have to fit into this tiny little box and you have to be exactly what the execs envisioned when they were writing it. You aren’t changing minds with your brilliant performance. In this world, talent simply doesn’t matter.

And that’s why I never gave up. Rejections hurt. But it’s never personal. You’re either what they want or you’re not. Suck it up, take it on the chin. Forget it, and move on. 

There were plenty of times when I didn’t want to go. I didn’t want to forfeit a day’s work on the off-chance that this could be the one. But you have to. Any audition could break the streak. 

YOU HAVE TO GO.

I didn’t move out here to sell tickets at Universal Studios. Sure, I’ve been doing it for eleven years because stand-up comedy is difficult and my landlord won’t accept drink tickets for rent.

Every audition is an opportunity to break you out of obscurity and destitution. One job can pay you tens of thousands of dollars and you only have to work for a day. It’s amazing. Which is also why it’s so goddamn hard. 

At any point, I could have thrown in the towel. I could have said fuck it. I don’t want to keep feeling like a loser. But I didn’t. Because it has nothing to do with me. One day I’ll be the perfect man for the job. I’ll get to feel that victory as it shoots throughout my entire body like I just ate a magic star in Super Mario Bros. 

That day is here. My ten-year non-booking streak has come to an end. In my heart, I always knew this day would come. I didn’t want it to take this long; no one does. But that’s how it goes. 

Everyone that moves to Hollywood makes it. As long as you don’t quit. And oh boy, you are going to want to. You will have moments that will test every fiber of your being. You’ll contemplate moving back to your hometown to become the manager of a Chili’s because benefits are enticing and fajitas are delicious. 

Don’t. 

Stay in. 

Believe.

Your dreams will come true. Only the smallest percent of people have true success in their first ten years in LA. You’re going to experience a massive amount of pain and failure. However, you’ll also have a few wins along the way. Wins that will give you that magic star feeling that all of us are chasing. LA can be the ultimate tease. She loves to kiss you, but it’s going to take a lot more for her to agree to fuck. 

Be persistent. Chase down every audition you can get. Never give up hope. The only way you won’t make it is if you tell yourself it’s impossible.

Be patient. You’re closer than you’ve ever been.

Have condoms ready. When that day comes and Hollywood takes off its pants for you, there’s no way you’re going to prematurely ejaculate. You’re going to make love for the rest of your life.

Never Stop Growing

Not at all sexual.

Holy shit! 

We made it. It’s the final day of the decade. Once again, the cynics are wrong. The world hasn’t exploded into oblivion. 

As we enter the 21st round of the roaring ’20s, it’s impossible not to recognize how far I’ve come. I’ve seen so much development in my relationships, my career as a comedian, the love of two adorable pugs, my physical well-being, and my general outlook on life as a whole.

One of the biggest lies we are fed as young people is that we will stop growing when we are eighteen. Doctors and teachers instill this truth in us and because we are too naive to know better, we believe them. 

What they should be telling us is that we will stop growing physically. Yes, once you are of legal age to gamble and smoke cigarettes, you’ll never get any closer to touching the sky. 

What they neglect to inform us is that if we are living life the right way, we will never stop growing. 

Emotionally. Mentally. Spiritually.

Continued growth is the cornerstone of being a successful human. 

Ten years ago I had been living in Los Angeles for a little over a year. I had begun my comedy journey, had great friends, an awesome girlfriend, and was having a ton of fun. Only issue: I still didn’t like myself.

Mirrors were not my friend.

I hated the way I looked. My eczema made my skin feel rough and my face look like the surface of Mars. I avoided mirrors. When someone would compliment me, I would immediately downplay it and say something self-deprecating. I blamed society for my problems because it was easier than diving inward and trying to understand myself and my feelings. 

In short, I wasn’t growing. Of course, nobody else knew this. Even I wasn’t aware of it. I’d set my life to cruise-control. I’d become comfortable coasting, soaking up the California sun and doing my best to avoid the self-hatred I felt daily.

Change is never easy. It’s often terrifying because it means you need to leave behind all the comforts you have settled into. It also doesn’t happen overnight. It’s going to take a lot longer than you want it to. 

My call-to-action came from a few different sources. 

First of all, my girlfriend (who I am still with today), showed me more love than I believed I was entitled to. She saw through my scratchy exterior into a soul that was kind, gentle, and loving. Through positive reinforcement, she checked me every time I said something negative about myself. It didn’t stop the thoughts, but it did make me notice them.

Comedy was one of my biggest motivators. Before I had unplaced manic energy, now I had an outlet to shovel all the emotional bullshit that used to pile up in my brain. Through writing and performing, I channeled everything I had into creating unique jokes and projects. 

I began reading books again. I would devour novels of all kinds, both fiction and non. I soaked up what others had learned and applied the principles and stories to my own life. Instead of turning on the TV immediately, I forced myself to read. It wasn’t always easy, but every time I did I felt better and my thirst for knowledge grew.

Pugs & Festivals - 2 things that have changed my life for the better.

In 2011, I started going to festivals. I had always been a rampant concert-goer. But the festival scene was levels above going to a nightclub and seeing a band. I found a place where people were not only loving the fuck out of life but also expressing themselves in ways I had never seen. Love, sharing, happiness, and silliness were abundant. It wasn’t long before these qualities trickled into my life. I looked at how free everyone was in their clothing, their actions, their general demeanor. I started to ask myself: Who am I? How do I want to present myself to the world?

In 2013 we adopted a ten-week-old pug. Although I had grown up with dogs, I never had a great relationship with them. Living with a puppy was brand new to me. There were a few dark moments where I even thought about giving him back. The responsibility was overbearing. But as the days went on, I realized how much this little wrinkled fur-sack loved me and it was impossible to not love him back. It doesn’t matter how I feel about myself, this guy will always treat me with the same level of adoration. If he can love me unconditionally, can’t I do the same for myself?

Around the middle of the decade, I found myself feeling very different about my place in the world. I had been living a selfish life where I always thought ME ME ME ME ME. I hated myself yet couldn’t stop thinking about me all the time. Talk about unhealthy narcissism. I wasn’t showing gratitude or outward love to the people around me. So I flipped a switch. I began writing about all the beautiful friends and family and sharing it on social media. The more I wrote, the stronger and more connected I felt to everything around me. 

In the past year, I’ve invited meditation into my life. Every day for at least ten minutes I sit and allow myself to simply exist. Just be. There’s no goal other than to invoke calmness. I was always traveling at a hundred miles per hour, never giving my brain a break. Since I began this process, I see everything much more clearly. I don’t get angry or upset at situations beyond my control. I am far happier than I have ever been.

Growth is everything. If you strive to be a better version of yourself, you'll not only live a more meaningful existence, but you'll create the life of your dreams.

It won’t be easy but there are a few simple things you can begin right now. 

Look at your past ten years. Think about where you were and where you are now. 

Now jump ahead ten years. It’s the year 2030. Where are you? What are you doing? Think about meeting this older, grander, wiser, more magnificent you. Realize it’s not only attainable. It’s necessary. You’ll never stop growing into everything you are meant to be. You just have to want it.

Take a moment today and think about it. Here are a few things you can do to help yourself get there.

• Read.

• Do something that scares you.

• Write.

• Meditate.

• Reach out to friends and tell them what they mean to you.

• Call a family member you haven’t spoken to in a while.

• Go on a hike.

• Let a dog lick your face (even if you think it’s gross).

• Volunteer.

Never stop believing in yourself. Be as genuine as possible. You have unlimited potential and power. You are enough. Love who you are and others will love you as well.

Ten years is a long time for personal growth. I can’t wait to see where you end up. 

Happy New Year.

Now go get fucked up. You earned it.

You got this!