you got this

There are three little words that I find so comforting. For me, it's almost like that sentence is the closest a sentence can get to a hug from someone you trust wholeheartedly. We're not talking about 'I love you' - we're talking about 'you got this'.

About a year ago, I had to catch a train the following morning and I felt simply... unable. Technically I was 'able' - my condition is at a point where, from time to time, I can physically walk unaided and despite travelling by train being incredibly hard for me still, it isn't the completely impossible notion that it once was. (Just because something is achievable however, it doesn't mean that it's without extreme difficulty).

Anyway, I was feeling overwhelmed by that extreme difficulty I'd be facing upon awakening and was also in a very 'I. Cannot. Do. It' mindset. It's not a mindset that I often find myself in but there it was, and I had no confidence left in my body's ability to get itself home. When the morning arrived and the time came to get a taxi to the train station, my goodbye with Will ended with an enveloping hug and a "you got this" in my ear. It was a tiny thing but it was also an important thing that I really, really needed. It was the important, comforting thing that I wanted to hear and I stopped thinking 'I can't' and started thinking 'I so can'. I haven't heard it since, but perhaps that's because I'm able to tell it to myself - and if not, Will seems to have an inbuilt "you got this"-sensor.

To be honest I can't even remember that particular journey so it must've been alright - I'm sure my body felt completely and utterly broken as it does on a daily basis, but I did it. I made it when I was sure I couldn't, and I wanted to share that with you today.

'You got this' applies to countless situations, I feel. It's not saying 'just do it', it's saying 'however long you need and whatever roads you need to take, it's fine - you'll get there, and you're stronger than you know'. Whether you're leaving your job for a new one, getting out of a harmful relationship, bringing up a child, starting a blog, coming out to your family, waking up to fight your chronic illness another day, attempting to get the wings of your eyeliner even, about to sit an exam... it's always relevant.

Just in case you haven't heard it enough lately or indeed ever, or you tell yourself 'I can't' so much you've started to believe it, or you don't have anyone to squeeze your shoulder and say three little words - this one's for you. Every situation of your existence so far that you told yourself you couldn't get through, you got through. Every day of your life so far that you thought you couldn't face, you've faced. So, I say with confidence...
...you got this.