From people who have been through it

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in the autumn. My degree not recognised. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feelnig in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are six weeks ago. The flood took the ground floor. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“Please be gentle with yourself. I wasn't. It made everythign harder. Honestly, getting out for ten minutes a day helped more than I thought it would. And talk to someone, even if it's just in here.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are last spring. Lost my way somehow. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are back in the summer. The student loan. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“I remember reading notes like this and not believing them. so I'll just say what happened to me: the first winter was my lowest point, and a year later I'm ok. not perfect. ok. you will be too, in your own time.”

“Please be gentle with yourself. I wasn't, and it made everything harder and try not to make big decisions on the worst days, I learned that the hard way and and talk to someone, even if it's just in here.”

“to whoever needs this: I was where you are last spring. visa renewal stress. today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. it comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold”

“Sorry, this got long. To whoever needs this: I was where you are last week. My wife has her own routine. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“Hey, I know it's early and everything feels upside down. That's normal. I've been through the earthquake and the flood. The first few weeks are the hardest, but you'll find your footing. Accept help when it's offered. Take it slow, day by day. And if you need to talk, I'm here. You're not on your own.”

“I remember reading notes like this and not believing them. So I'll just say what happened to me: every entry job wants experience was my lowest point, and a year later I'm ok. Not perfect. Ok. You will be too, in your own time.”

“I remember reading notes like this and not believing them. So I'll just say what happened to me: lost my way somehow was my lowest point, and a year later I'm ok. Not perfect. Ok. You will be too, in your own time.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are a few months back. Can not drive anymore. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“You don't have to have it all figured out by 25 or 30. I'm 30 and still don't. What helped me was finding one thing that was mine, like the gym before sunrise. It's not a fix but it's a start. And talk to someone, anyone. Even the dog. It sounds silly but saying things out loud makes them less scary. You're not the only one who feels behind.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in the summer. First year at uni and not fitting in. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“to whoever needs this: I was where you are in november. the student loan. today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. it comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“I remember reading notes like this and not believing them. So I'll just say what happened to me: two tours was my lowest point. A year later I'm ok. Not perfect. Ok. You will be too, in your own time.”

“Not sure if this makes sense. To whoever needs this: I was where you are at the start of the year. Friends with careers. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“Sorry if this is a lot. To whoever needs this: I was where you are in May. Graduated two years ago and nothing. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“Please be gentle with yourself so I wasn't, and it made everything harder. Try not to make big decisions on the worst days so I learned that the hard way and and talk to someone, even if it's just in here.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in November. Lost my way somehow. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in November. My husband still there. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“I know the first year is rough. You're going to feel like a stranger in your own life. That's normal. Keep calling home. Find one small thing that feels like yours, a park, a coffee shop, a neighbour who says hello. Don't wait for the loneliness to lift on its own. I waited too long. And if you can, find people from back home. They'll get it without you having to explain. It gets easier, but it doesn't happen by itself. You have to make it happen. Even when you're tired.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are after the new year. The student loan. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“I think If you're at the start of this, I won't pretend it's easy. The first few months were the worst of my life. But I'm writing this from the other side, and some days now I forget to be sad. I said yes to every invite for a month, even when I didn't want to. Glad I did. Go slowly.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in the summer and visa renewal stress. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To anyone starting to feel alone as they get older: it's hard when the places you used to go close down. But there are still people out there. Try a phone line, a church group, or even just saying hello to a neighbour. It might feel small, but it helps.”

“Cuando llegas a un país nuevo, todo es extraño. El idioma, las costumbres, la comida. Te sientes perdido. Yo también. Pero poco a poco, vas encontrando tu sitio. No te compares con los demás. Cada uno tiene su ritmo. Busca ayuda. Habla con gente que haya pasado por lo mismo. Y no te olvides de tu idioma, de tus raíces. Eso te mantendrá entero.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in November. Cannot name it but I am not ok. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“I remember reading notes like this and not believing them. So I'll just say what happened to me: the only voice some days is the radio was my lowest point. A year later I'm ok. Not perfect. Ok. You will be too, in your own time.”

“If you're at the start of this, I won't pretend it's easy so the first few months were the worst of my life so but I'm writing this from the other side, and some days now I forget to be sad, I volunteered two mornings a week and it gave me a reason to get dressed. Go slowly.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in November. A typhoon and the roof. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are last month. First year at uni and not fitting in. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“Please be gentle with yourself. I wasn't, and it made everything harder. Telling one person the full tuth helped me more than anything. And talk to someone, even if it's just in here.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are three weeks ago. The student loan. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are back in the summer. My English accent at work. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“Please be gentle with yourself. I wasn't, and it made everything harder. Joining a class gave me somewhere to be every Thursday. It helped. And talk to someone, even if it's just in here. God willing it gets easier.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in the summer. The student loan. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“You're not the only one who feels behind. I promise. The gap on your CV, the waiting list, the friends who seem to have it all worked out, it's all just noise. I don't have the answers, but I do know that feeding the birds every morning helped me get out of bed. Find your birds. And keep applying, even when it feels pointless. Something will stick.”

“I'm not going to tell you everything happens for a reason. It doesn't so but you can get through it. I did, and I'm not especially strong. Lean on whoever offers, even if it's awkward. People want to help.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are last month. Lost my way somehow. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“I don't know what you're facing, but I know the quiet. I know the table for four. I know the meetup you leave early. It's okay to not know what's next. Just try one thing. One drink. One Tuesday at the charity shop. One call. It's not a solution. But it's something.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are just before Christmas. Lost my way somehow. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“You will rehearse conversations that other people do not think twice about. That is okay. You will hear your accent in recordings and cringe. That is okay too. The thing I wish I had known is that the fear gets smaller not because you 'get over it' but because you do the thing anyway, over and over, until your body stops expecting the worst. Find one person who gets it. For me it was Mason. And go dancing. Your body remembers how to be happy even when your head is busy worrying.”

“Please be gentle with yourself and I wasn't, and it made everything harder and telling one person the full truth helped me more than anything, and talk to someone, even if it's just in here.”

“Please be gentle with yourself. I wasn't, and it made everything harder and ask for a double appointment if you can, it changed things for me so and talk to someone, even if it's just in here.”

“To whoever's starting out in this mess: you're not lazy. The job market's a joke, and raising kids is work. Keep applying, but also find something that makes you feel like you. For me it's the chickens and sunsets. It won't fix everything, but it helps.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in the autumn. The student loan. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It coms back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“If you are just starting this hard time, I want to say it is ok to not be ok. I could not name what was wrong for months. I just knew I was not fine. I knit a lot and watched telly and went dancing on Fridays because I had to do something. You don't have to explain it to anyone yet. Just get through today. And if you avoid phone calls like I did, that's ok. Answer one when you can. I am through the worst now, and you will get through too.”

“I remember reading notes like this and not believing them. So I'll just say what happened to me: missing my mum's cooking was my lowest point, and a year later I am ok. Not perfect. Ok. You will be too, in your own time.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in March. Comparing grades. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“When I was in the thick of it, I thought everyone else had it figured out and I was the only one stuck. They don't. They're just better at pretending. Start with one small thing: a shower, a walk, one application. Not because it fixes everything, but because it stops the gap from growing. And ask for help with the money stuff early. The debt people are not scary, they're just people with a spreadsheet. You're not a failure for needing a while. You're just early in the story.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are just before Christmas. News from home every hour. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“Dear friend, I know the ground feels like it won't stop shaking. When the typhoon came and then the earthquake, I thought we would never feel safe again. But we are still here, living with family, fixing what we can. Take it from me, you don't have to do it all at once. Accept help. Keep talking. And if you can, find one small thing that makes you smile, like a rose in a pot. You will get through this.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are in August. Lost my way somehow. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was whee you are in November. The flood took the ground floor. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are last week. Two tours. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“Sorry, this got long. To whoever needs this: I was where you are in August. A typhoon and the roof. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”

“hey, if you're just starting uni and feel like you don't belong, i get it. i failed a module and thought it was the end. it's not. talk to someone, even if it's just one person. i left a meetup early once and felt like a failure. the next time i stayed 20 minutes. small steps. you don't have to have it all figured out. just keep going.”

“To whoever needs this: I was where you are around Easter, A dissertation deadline. Today I made breakfast, went to work and laughed at something. It comes back slowly, like feeling in your fingers after the cold.”