Part I: Flaws Become You

• The world has told you lies about how small you are. You will look back on this time and say, “I had it all, but I didn’t even know it. I was at the center, I could breathe in happiness, I could swim to the moon. I had everything I needed.”
• Sadly, becoming an adult often requires learning to negotiate with devils.
• I contain worlds. I have many interests and many tastes, and I give zero fucks about those who question my choices.
• When you’re defensive about your choices, that makes other people less accepting of those choices, too.
• It’s time to take better care of yourself, to embrace and support yourself more, to remind yourself what you truly care about, and to make better judgments about who is worthy of the full, glorious light of weirdness you will someday shine on the world, far and wide. And you will! Oh, will you shine! I love that you know what you like and don’t like, that you show yourself to the world no matter what, that you sleep with a baby blanket and a bear. You do what you like, even when you don’t feel appreciated for it. Don’t lose that. But you do have to recognize that people like you—and me, and lots of people out there—will always feel some tension between themselves and the world. We’re tempted to provoke, to deliberately rub people the wrong way. We do this because we’re pissed that the world isn’t kind to us. We’re sick of being treated badly just because we have unusual preferences and strong opinions and we talk a little too much. It’s easier to go against the grain if you’re thick-skinned, but we’re not. We’re sensitive. And nothing is quite as hard as being a sensitive, aggressive weirdo.
• A lot of people won’t be into you. You will feel the pain of that for your entire life, trust me. You really should accept it and learn to deal with it—not by shutting people out or becoming defensive or rigid, but by (paradoxically!) allowing people space to feel however they happen to feel and making small adjustments to how you move through the world based on what feels good and what doesn’t.
• This world is filled with reckless, selfish people who are reckless and selfish in ways that are horribly damaging and hideous and unfair.
• You are just a person with regular flaws, fumbling your way toward a satisfying life. You’ve been handed a big challenge, but one that’s going to help you to grow up and take care of yourself and connect honestly with other people. You don’t have to love this challenge right now. You can cry every day and feel terrible about it. But this challenge wasn’t meant to topple everything else you’re doing that’s good in your life. This challenge fits right in with your exercising and eating healthier and traveling and connecting with friends and taking care of yourself. This is you, facing whatever comes next while also acknowledging that you’ve been thrown for a loop.

Part II: You Are Uniquely Qualified to Bring You the World

• Struggling with a shitty job is part of growing up. You punch the clock at a horrible job for a few years, and guess what? It sucks. But eventually, you start to figure out how to get a job you actually enjoy. That doesn’t happen when you’re vacuuming and playing with cats full-time.
• When you know what you want, you have to keep your heart and your eyes wide open.
• Don’t ask indifference to love you. Indifference can go fuck itself. This is your life, and it’s going to be big and bright and beautiful.

Part III: Reckoning, Anger, and Obsession

• It will never be perfect, of course. That’s okay. Imperfect things are even better. You know that better than anyone. Imperfect things are the most beautiful things of all.

Part IV: Weepiness Is Next to Godliness

• The whole world is a hazy kaleidoscope of carpe diem recklessness.
• This world is filled with people who think feeling less, being indifferent, makes you strong. Don’t believe that. Be one of the smart, thoughtful people who stands up for sensitive people. When you stand up for sensitive, hurt people, you’re also standing up for vulnerability and authenticity and true love.
• You can love someone like crazy, but it does actually matter how much they love you back.
• A lot of people—not just men—are terrible at making room for another human being in their lives. If you’re dating someone who pulls away even as your bond should be strengthening, that’s doesn’t bode well. Don’t sign up for a lifetime of that. So many people do.

Part V: Identity and Becoming an Artist (Whether You Make Art or Not)

• Artists are not easy people to like. Their feelings often come before yours. That’s how they have to live sometimes, just to remember, just to locate the center of the thing.
• Artists are always misfits. Even when you plant them in artist colonies, they feel like the misfits among other misfits.

Part VI: The Uncertainty Principle

• This life is not perfect. This world is not a perfect place. Sometimes it’s nice to sip a drink, and repeat yourself, among people who aren’t perfect and don’t expect you to be perfect either. Aim low, open your heart, and let them in.
• Life is not about knowing. Life is about feeling your way through the dark.

Part VI: The Uncertainty Principle

• Life is a struggle, but you know what? Most of us just keep rolling along one way or another, difficult or not.