Leave Out All The Rest

Some news are hard to swallow sometimes. You wish those news are fake news and everything would remain as used to be. 

But July 20, you and I wish this day would never come.

On this very day, we woke up with a very sad and shocking news that Chester Bennington, the lead from Linkin Park commited suicide. 

Not to say a very big fan of them but Linkin Park and Chester specifically is the voice of my pre-teen days. Chester is the voice that resonates my innocent pre-teen days. When it comes to my teenage days, Linkin Park got to be one of my fondest memories. Everyone was awed by their unique talent and remarkable lead  voice by Chester. 

Chester along with the band defines an era in my life. They defined an era in many fans' lives. With every one of those songs, with every one of those lyrics, Chester made misunderstood teenagers worldwide feel understood, validated, and seen in a way their parents, friends, or authority figures couldn't see them. 

One of my favourite songs from Linkin Park is Leave Out All The Rest. 

When my time comes

Forget the wrong that I've done

Help me leave behind some

Reasons to be missed

Don't resent me

And when you're feeling empty

Keep me in your memory

Leave out all the rest

This song is like his last message to all of us before he left, so it seems. We will never resent you as you with the band had given us an exceptional entertainment. And of course, we will keep you in our memory and leave out all the rest.

Have a good rest, Chester.

You’re Allowed To Leave

By Rania Naim

You’re allowed to leave any story you don’t find yourself in. You’re allowed to leave any story you don’t love yourself in.

You’re allowed to leave a city that has dim
med your light instead of making you shine brighter, you’re allowed to pack all your bags and start over somewhere else and you’re allowed to redefine the meaning of your life.

You’re allowed to quit the job you hate even if the world tells you not to and you’re allowed to search for something that makes you look forward to tomorrow and to the rest of your life.

You’re allowed to leave someone you love if they’re treating you poorly, you’re allowed to put yourself first if you’re settling and you’re allowed to walk away when you’ve tried over and over again but nothing has changed.

You’re allowed to let toxic friends go, you’re allowed to surround yourself with love, and people who encourage and nurture you. You’re allowed to pick the kind of energy you need in your life.

You’re allowed to forgive yourself for your biggest and smallest mistakes and you’re allowed to be kind to yourself, you’re allowed to look in the mirror and actually like the person you see.

You’re allowed to set yourself free from your own expectations.

We sometimes look at leaving as a bad thing or associate it with giving up or quitting, but sometimes leaving is the best thing you can do for yourself.

Leaving allows you to change directions, to start over, to rediscover yourself and the world. Leaving sometimes saves you from staying stuck in the wrong place with the wrong people.

Leaving opens a new door for change, growth, opportunities and redemption.

You always have the choice to leave until you find where you belong and what makes you happy.

You’re even allowed to leave the old you behind and reinvent yourself.