Some of the hardest moments of my life have prepared me for the kind of courage I would never have had if life had been easy. This doesn't mean that I want to experience pain or that getting hurt doesn't bother me —but it means that rather than seeing pain as a hindrance to my growth; I see it as a necessary tool. Pain has taught me things that happiness never could. Pain has allowed me to understand how fleeting everything is, how temporary the 'good times' can be and just how unpredictable life is. Pain allowed me to understand the importance of learning about myself and what would be good for me. Pain pushed me to change, grow and shape myself in new ways. And I'm not saying that pain is something we should all experience in order to reach those places, but what I am saying is this —hurting will not stop you from being your happiest self one day. In fact, it might even give you the strength that you need to get there sooner.