May is Mental Health Awareness Month — a time to pause, reflect, and remind ourselves that our lives matter, even on the hardest days. When you’re struggling, initially, it can feel impossible to see beyond the pain. However, even in the most challenging times, life still finds a way to offer something. For instance, a song might play that takes you back to a better memory, or perhaps a familiar scent drifts by, offering a moment of comfort. Moreover, a sudden memory may resurface, reminding you of better days. As a result, these small yet meaningful moments can act as a reminder that life still has something worth staying for. In the end, it’s these simple things that help guide us through tough times and ultimately bring hope back into focus.
Below are 100 simple, powerful reasons to stay alive.
Nature and Surroundings
- The smell of fresh rain
- Watching the sunrise
- The way the ocean sounds
- Stars on a clear night
- First snowfall of the year
- The way flowers bloom in spring
- Rainbows after storms
- Watching clouds float by
- Fireflies at dusk
- Sunflowers
- Seeing the moon
Simple Pleasures
- Your favorite song on repeat
- Hot coffee on a cold morning
- The smell of cookies baking
- A warm blanket straight from the dryer
- Clean sheets
- Soft pajamas
- Cozy socks
- Freshly baked bread
- The smell of your favorite shampoo
- Pumpkin spice season
- Ice cream on a hot day
- Your favorite sweatshirt
- The smell of campfire
- Bubble baths
Connections and Relationships
- Dogs wagging their tails
- A hug that lasts a little longer
- Hearing “I’m proud of you”
- Deep talks at 2 AM
- Someone genuinely checking on you
- Petting a cat purring on your lap
- Being someone’s safe space
- Reuniting with someone
- Inside jokes
- Falling in love
- Falling back in love—with life
- Forging new friendships
- Finding community
- Being your true self
- Holding someone’s hand
- Being told “I love you”
- Being told “I need you”
- Meeting someone who understands
Personal Growth and Self-Discovery
- Starting over
- Forgiveness
- Telling your story someday
- Learning something new
- The feeling of growth
- Finding your purpose
- Creating something from nothing
- Being proud of yourself
- Learning to forgive yourself
- Getting better, slowly
- Making a vision board
- Planning for the future
- Starting again
- Healing
- Hope
- Resilience
- You
Joyful Experiences
- Laughing until your stomach hurts
- Long drives with good music
- A child’s giggle
- Finding money in your pocket
- Books you can’t put down
- New episodes of your favorite show
- Road trips to nowhere
- Slow dancing in the kitchen
- Surprising someone you love
- Being surprised
- Watching kids play
- Sharing your favorite movie
- Seeing someone you helped succeed
- Dancing like nobody’s watching
- Giving someone hope
- Waking up after a restful sleep
- Traveling somewhere new
- Making art
- Seeing your favorite artist live
- Getting through what you thought you couldn’t
- Watching your pet sleep peacefully
- Rewatching a childhood movie
- Being part of something bigger
- Watching plants grow
- Feeling heard
- Being reminded that you matter
Comfort and Reflection
- Lazy Sundays
- A fresh journal
- Going to therapy
- Going for a walk
- Candlelight
- Friendly strangers
- Making someone smile
- Getting a letter or text out of the blue
Every one of these is a thread in the fabric of life—tiny reminders that even in the hardest moments, there are reasons to stay alive. If today feels heavy, know that it doesn’t have to be perfect to be worth it. Your existence has value, and your story is still unfolding.
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