13 Reasons why? (the other version)
- Sara Abdelwahab
- Jul 31, 2017
- 5 min read
13 Reasons why is definitely one of the biggest hits Netflix had this year. Millions of people, particularly teenagers, fell in love with it and got emotional over it. Over the course of 13 episodes, we watched a masterpiece of work, and felt sympathy all the way through, and so many were able to relate to the struggles of being in high school. The show was able to portray an image of high school life that is close to real. However, the show discusses 13 reasons why Hannah Baker committed suicide, and if you think deeply about it, you may find that she had a lot more than 13 reasons.
But, if you think about it the other way, she definitely had way more reasons to live. So many of us might find ourselves in a situation where we are overwhelmed with life, where we have so many reasons to give up, like Hannah did, but is that really what should we be thinking about, our reasons to die? Or should we focus on the countless reasons to live? Here are 13 reasons (there are definitely maaany more) for Hannah Baker, and all of us, to live, and enjoy life.
1. Parents/ family.
Hannah had wonderful, loving, and caring parents who would’ve done anything for their only child. So many of us do, too. We just need to be reminded of it daily. That is an important reason to live for. Even when we feel unloved from everyone around, they will always be there to love and comfort us.
2. Future
We all have hopes and dreams for the future: what college we want to go to, what we want to become, how we can make a change in this world, all these dreams we’ve been building since we were kids are worth living up to. Our parents, families, friends have expectations and hopes for us. Living to see yourself achieve your dreams, have a beautiful family and a successful family is definitely worth it.
3. To prove them all wrong
When life knocks you down, when people disappoint you, when they all want to watch you fail, don’t take the easy way out, instead, hold on to life as tight as you can and prove them all wrong. Work hard to make sure they can see that they were wrong in everything they said/ did to you. That’s definitely something worth living for; to watch their faces.
4. To love and be loved.
There is certainly someone out there in the world who will love you for who you are and see your inner beauty. You are likely not going to meet them in high school and maybe not in college, but you will one day, and that day is worth waiting for.
5. To do good/ to make people happy
Doing charity, volunteering, helping the needy is something to live for. That feeling of being helpful, being human, making a small change in the world, trumps every other feeling. To make someone smile, to ease a person’s pain; nothing can equal that.
6. To see yourself become stronger
Even if you’re down and feeling blue, you could wait,resist, and persevere until you see your scars heal. That day you see yourself become a stronger, determined person is something to live for. Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, so don’t let it kill you, only let it make you stronger.
7. To learn
There is so much to learn out there. You never get enough knowledge, so keep going on your life-long journey of education, teach others, learn from others. Learn languages, math, sciences. Learn from experiences. Learn from people. Don’t end your journey.
8. To read/ live so many other lives
Reading is a pleasure. Every book is a new world, with new people and a new life. It entertains you, teaches you, and enlightens you. Abbas Al Akkad said “I do not read for I have renounced life, I read because one life is just not enough for me.” So why end my own life, I still have too many books to read, so many worlds to explore, and so many lives to enjoy.
9. Make friends
Some friendships last for life. You might find that one friend who makes you laugh to your stomach, give you a hug when you’re down, change your mood in five minutes, support you to get through the toughest times, and want nothing more than your happiness and success. Trust me, there are still people out there like that. Those people who spark ideas in your brain and inspire you to write an essay like this one :) , they are worth waiting for.
10. Travel (bucket list)
Live so you can travel. Live so you can check things off your bucket list. Go skydiving, cliff jumping, fly in a hot air balloon, and travel. Go to Europe, visit Africa, tour Asia, go around the world. Don’t miss out on these wonderful, adrenaline filled experiences because there's so much fun we haven't tried yet.
11. To enjoy whatever it is you love (movies, food, shopping, sports, etc)
Whatever it is that you enjoy, keep doing it. Watch movies, enjoy delicious food, goo shopping, play sports, drink coffee, write, sing, play an instrument, listen to music. Find your passion, and do it. It’ll make life more enjoyable and entertaining.
12. To start fresh
It’s never too late to be whoever you want to be. You can always start fresh. And like F. Scott Fitzgerald, I hope "you live a life you are proud of, and if you’re not, I hope you have the courage to start all over again.” It’s not too late, it just takes courage. The secret of life is not to never get knocked down, the secret”is to fall seven times and to get up eight times,”as Paulo Coelho said. So stand up for the life you wish to live and own it, with courage and honor, leaving all the sorrow behind.
13. Just because..
Last, but certainly not least, because life is just worth living. It’s worth it. With all its ups and downs, with all its imperfections and misery, it is just worth living. Always remind yourself that “even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise,”as the great Victor Hugo said.
These are just some of the reasons I was inspired to write. There is a bunch more out there, feel free to check the list linked below. You can also just look around you, with a positive perspective, and you’ll see so many reasons to live, instead of reasons not to. By the way, I really liked the show, because who didn’t?
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