10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self:

1. You are not ugly.
2. You deserve good friends; find some.
3. Don't be afraid to speak up for what is right.
4. Falling for the seemingly nice guy shouldn't happen so easily, let it take time.
5. Do your f*cking homework.
6. Spend more time with your siblings.
7. Hug your mom.
8. Don't feel bad if you want to spend a day in bed reading.
9. You don't need that ice cream, eat some veggies.
10. You are a good person, don't let anyone make you think otherwise.

Obligation; No more

There is a girl I work with. And her parents love her very, very much. The relationship they share makes my heart ache. I've never had that with my own parents. There has always been this word in the air, my parents never tried to hide it much, "obligation". That's what we were to my parents. The children they had made. The children that should have been made out of love, alas, were not.

As I watch from afar, the life of families that pass me by, I realize that I never would have found a sense of happiness with those that share my blood.

I also realize that The Szugyes give me more of what I have ever wanted from parents. They hug me, and let me cry, then hand me a glass of wine and tell me jokes. They let me talk. They let me believe. They let me learn, search, and most importantly: fly through this world as if it's my own adventure, my own story to write.

My blood gave away the title of "Mom and Dad". And in turn gave me one of the greatest opportunities I've ever been handed.

Breathe in, breathe out.
The world has so much more to offer than we could ever think possible.