It's okay to...

Scream.

Scream because you're angry, frustrated, poor, sad or just damn lonely. Scream because you don't know where you're going, what you're doing, why you're doing any of it and why it's worth doing. Scream it out. Talk about it. Tell a friend. It's okay not to be okay.

Cry.

Having a rough day? Parent sick, pet destroyed favourite collectible, sick of people not listening? Heck, have a good cry. Curl up in a little ball and let it out. Don't forget the tissue.

Speak up.

Someone take advantage of you, bully you, degrade you, made you sound like an idiot? The system's taking advantage of you? That credit card charge wasn't yours to begin with or that product was faulty?  Speak up.

Or don't.

Don't scream. Don't cry. Don't speak up. Hide in your room, in the dark, even, watch silent films from the 1920s and imagine the world always ends with the pirate being redeemed and the lovely maiden being lovely. That's okay, too. But make sure you're okay with it.

Laugh.

It's funny? Laugh. Laugh alone in your house, with your windows open and nearby neighbours wondering if you've gone insane. Laugh because it hurts, laugh because it's frustrating, laugh until your cheeks hurt, while tears escape. Laugh because it's infectious.

Say thank you.

And how are you. And ask the person on the bench why they're crying, and if you can listen for a moment. Say you're welcome, say you're sorry. Don't assume anyone knows that you imply those things. Leave a tip at your favourite coffee house.

Say I love you.

Because, again, never assume people know. Never assume they'll be there tomorrow.  Never assume you'll be there tomorrow.

Say no.

You don't need to go to that fundraiser, that family event, that random poetry reading. You don't, seriously. The time you're given is yours, and it's yours to do with as you will.

Say yes.

Take that chance. Go bunjee jumping. Hold hands in the rain and kiss under a full moon. Say yes to success and failure, and embrace them both. Get familiar with them. They'll be with you for your entire journey, after all.

Trust.

Trust in God or nothing. Trust in yourself or others, trust in no one. But know who you trust and distrust, and who you can count on. Make sure you're on that list of who you can trust. If not, make a point of being on it by next year.

Live.

Just live, damn it. Live, because it's beautiful and ugly and scary and elating and everything.  Live, because you're smart enough to understand that life, every life, ends. And you just don't know when yours will.