A message for you (the adult reads it out loud)

Hi. I want to tell you a secret: it's very hard for me to say when I'm sad.

A lot of the time I keep it to myself and don't tell anyone. But the people in my family have their antennas switched on. They notice just by looking at my face. And sometimes, without saying anything, they make me laugh, invite me to eat something yummy, or stay with me for a while. And the sadness gets smaller.

My family taught me to be there for people when they're happy and when they're sad, and to put myself in their place.

So I'm telling you: look at the faces of the people you love. If someone is sad, ask them «what's wrong?». You don't need to know what to say. Sometimes it's enough to stay by their side.

And if you're the one who's sad, tell someone. The people who love you want to know.

Now you know how to switch your antennas on. Use them a lot.

With love,
the one who wrote this route

Before you close this route, I want to tell you something about me.

It's very hard for me to say what I feel. I almost always keep things to myself, and most people never find out about the battles I'm fighting day to day. When I've been through hard times, I've kept quiet so as not to complicate anyone's life. But at certain moments, the people closest to me realized something was wrong. Not because I told them: they saw it in my face, in how little I talked, in something small. And many times, without saying a single word, they helped me get through: with a laugh, a meal, some time together. They didn't fix anything. They stayed. And with that, everything was easier to carry.

I've also been on the other side. I had a cousin who was going through something very hard, and I didn't notice in time. We didn't see each other often, and in the rush of everyday life I didn't see it. Today he's no longer here. I wish I had been more present, asked him what was going on and tried to be there for him. I don't know if that would have changed anything. What I did learn is that many people find it hard to talk about what they're living, like me, and guessing is very hard. That's why it isn't enough to wait for them to tell you. You have to look, and ask.

I learned this from my family. They taught me to be there for people in good times and bad, to put myself in their place, not to judge without knowing the whole story, and to support them as far as I can. For me, that's empathy: not feeling the same as the other person, but letting them know they're not alone.

So, now that you're finishing, I'll tell you this:

We all go through very hard trials, and sometimes we feel alone even with people around us. Many of those trials can't be seen. The person next to you may be fighting a battle they haven't told you about.

Notice: look at faces, not just words. Ask, and if they tell you «I'm fine», ask again. Listen without rushing to give advice. And be there. You don't need big speeches: a word, a laugh, a meal, some time together. Something simple can make someone else's day easier to carry.

Put yourself in other people's shoes before giving your opinion. Without knowing the context, you can't judge anyone.

And if you're the one who's quiet: telling what's happening to you doesn't complicate anyone's life. The people who love you would rather know.

Life goes by fast, and the people you love won't always be here. Look at them today.

With love,
the one who wrote this route

Before you close this route, I want to tell you something about me.

It's very hard for me to say what I feel. I almost always keep things to myself, and most people never find out about the battles I'm fighting day to day. When I've been through hard times, I've kept quiet so as not to complicate anyone's life. But at certain moments, the people closest to me realized something was wrong. Not because I told them: they saw it in my face, in how little I talked, in something small. And many times, without saying a single word, they helped me get through: with a laugh, a meal, a beer, some time together. They didn't fix anything. They stayed. And with that, everything was easier to carry.

I've also been on the other side. I had a cousin who was going through something very hard, and I didn't notice in time. We didn't see each other often, and in the rush of everyday life I didn't see it. Today he's no longer here. I wish I had been more present, asked him what was going on and tried to be there for him. I don't know if that would have changed anything. What I did learn is that many people find it hard to talk about what they're living, like me, and guessing is very hard. That's why it isn't enough to wait for them to tell you. You have to look, and ask.

I learned this from my family. They taught me to be there for people in good times and bad, to put myself in their place, not to judge without knowing the whole story, and to support them as far as I can. For me, that's empathy: not feeling the same as the other person, but letting them know they're not alone.

So, now that you're finishing, I'll tell you this:

We all go through very hard trials, and sometimes we feel alone even with people around us. Many of those trials can't be seen. The person next to you may be fighting a battle they haven't told you about.

Notice: look at faces, not just words. Ask, and if they tell you «I'm fine», ask again. Listen without rushing to give advice. And be there. You don't need big speeches: a word, a laugh, a meal, some time together. Something simple can make someone else's day easier to carry.

Put yourself in other people's shoes before giving your opinion. Without knowing the context, you can't judge anyone.

And if you're the one who's quiet: telling what's happening to you doesn't complicate anyone's life. The people who love you would rather know.

Life goes by fast, and the people you love won't always be here. Look at them today.

With love,
the one who wrote this route