I have always found peace in the stars. Nighttime is when the mind wanders and when worries build. I remember embarrassing things I said or did years ago and I toss and turn in bed clutching my pillow and shoving it into my face to try and press the thoughts away. During the day there are plenty of distractions I can find to keep myself busy, but at night is when I am exposed. I think my affinity for starts started when I was very little. I used to have those glow-in-the-dark sticker stars on my bedroom ceiling that I could stare at when I couldn't sleep. This habit continued throughout my life. During times of great stress or lack of sleep, I would wander outside and lookup. The cool breeze with the glimmer of tiny explosions far away in space was soothing. Even now I make sure to pause and take a moment to see the night sky and wink at the stars winking back at me.

I grew up in a really abusive home so to survive it really was essential for me to find simple pleasures in my life. They became my only escape while I was stuck in a toxic environment. A common simple pleasure for me was looking at the stars. I would climb on top of the roof of my dad's car every night. There I could lay back and stare at the night sky. It offered me serenity and peace during a time of turmoil. Life can become so busy so fast and we end up letting everything fly past us. It's so important to stop and take a breath and really take in the peaceful moments that we do have.

Giving for me comes from both a place of empathy and logic. I think we all find ourselves needing help from others at some point in our lives, and it's only fair and right to offer the same help.