Saving

I look around at my school and see all of these kids with scars on their arms, sadness in their eyes, or pain in their life. I see people on twitter, instagram, and tumblr that have nothing but hate for themselves. I hear the stories from those around me or those who reach out to me with their issues and struggles. It is shocking and scary to see all of these people young and old fighting their own demons. It is sad that so many of us feel this way, feel like there is no way to solve our problems, that we have no purpose, we feel lonley, think we are fat, hate who we are, have no one to reach out to, have no reason to keep fighting. It is also devastating that you cannot save them all. That you cannot reach out and keep every person safe and teach them to love themselves. For me, I wish I could. I want to help everyone who I see is hurting. But that is impossible, im one teenager in a world with millions suffering. But I try my best to support those who seek me out, to encourage and teach. A big lesson I have learned is that you have to help yourself first. You cannot go around saving people and giving them advice that you don't even listen to. You can't help people when you are falling apart just as much as them. One of my best friends explained it like this: what do the flight attendants say to do with your oxygen mask in an emergency?  They tell you to put yours on first, making sure its secure and safe. Then you help those around you to put theirs on. So put your oxygen mask on first, make sure you are breathing well before you save the others.