In sixth grade, my best friend called me fat. We haven’t spoken since.

In tenth grade, a boy that I really liked asked me to prom by writing out “PROM?” in big, colorful letters on Staples brand poster board. It was the best day of my life since kindergarten when I lost my tooth in the mac-and-cheese at Disney World.

In freshman year, my roommates tweeted very nasty, very mean words about me. People that I didn’t even know were telling me to sleep with one eye open.

Last year, I wrote an extremely difficult letter to a boy I once loved.

The Cheetah Girls 2 soundtrack makes me miss 2006 when Disney Channel was actually good. The letter my first boyfriend wrote to me on our plane back to New York always makes me cry. My favorite podcasts make me laugh and whenever Michelle Obama talks, I shed a single tear because I really wish she would run in 2020.

Words have the power to dramatically alter our lives. They give us solace in times of sadness and show us courage when we’ve hit rock bottom. Words never fail. They are and will always be there for us.

Words are my comfort food.

I hope you’ll find comfort in them, too.