Everybody Has Something

It is easy to look around and assume everyone else has it easier.

You see people walking through school.

You see people posting on social media.

You see people laughing with friends.

And sometimes it can seem like everyone else has a perfect life.

The truth is that you are only seeing a small part of their story.

Every person you meet is carrying something.

Some people are carrying anxiety.

Some are carrying family problems.

Some are carrying health conditions.

Some are carrying grief, stress, insecurity, or struggles that nobody else knows about.

You may not be able to see those things.

That doesn't mean they aren't there.

Scoliosis is simply one of the challenges you happen to be carrying.

It is not the only challenge in the world.

And it is not the only challenge people your age are facing.

Remembering this can help when you start feeling isolated.

Not because it minimizes your experience.

Your experience matters.

Your feelings matter.

But it reminds you that struggle is part of being human.

Nobody gets through life without challenges.

The challenges simply look different from person to person.

One of the most comforting realizations many teens have is that they don't need to be the same as everyone else to belong.

You can have scoliosis and belong.

You can have challenges and belong.

You can have difficult days and still belong.

You are not separated from other people because of your struggles.

In many ways, your struggles connect you to them.

Because everybody has something.

And understanding that can make the world feel a little less lonely.