Instructions For A Bad Day
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2025
- Words of encouragement for your inevitable bad day.
A compilation of worldwide TH-cam content, the crowd-sourced documentary "Life in a Day" by Kevin Macdonald, and local footage by Jon Goodgion. Audio is the spoken word poem "Instructions For a Bad Day" by Shane Koyczan.
Rights remain to respective owners.
Here is the poem in written form:
"There will be bad days.
Be calm. Loosen your grip, opening each palm slowly now. Let go.
Be confident. Know that "now" is only a moment, and that if "today" is as bad as it gets, understand that by tomorrow, "today" will have ended.
Be gracious. Accept each extended hand offered, to pull you back from the "somewhere" you cannot escape.
Be diligent. Scrape the gray sky clean. Realize every dark cloud is a smoke screen meant to blind us from the Truth - and the Truth is, whether we see them or not, the Sun and Moon are still there and always there is Light.
Be forthright. Despite your instinct to say "it's alright, I'm okay" - be honest. Say how you feel without fear or guilt, without remorse or complexity.
Be lucid in your explanation, be sterling in your oppose. If you think for one second no one knows what you've been going through; be accepting of the fact that you are wrong, that the long drawn and heavy breaths of despair have at times been felt by everyone - that Pain is part of the Human Condition, and that alone makes you a legion.
We hungry underdogs, we risers with dawn, we dissmisser's of odds, we pressers of on - we will station ourselves to the calm. We will hold ourselves to the steady, be ready player one. Life is going to come at you armed with hard times and tough choices, your voice is your weapon, your thoughts ammunition - there are no free extra men, be aware that as the instant now passes, it exists now as then. So be a mirror reflecting yourself back, and remembering the times when you thought all of this was too hard and you'd never make it through.
Remember the times you could have pressed quit - but you hit continue.
Be forgiving. Living with the burden of anger, is not living. Giving your focus to wrath will leave your entire self absent of what you need. Love and hate are beasts and the one that grows is the one you feed.
Be persistent. Be the weed growing through the cracks in the cement, beautiful - because it doesn't know it's not supposed to grow there.
Be resolute. Declare what you accept as true in a way that envisions the resolve with which you accept it. If you are having a good day, be considerate. A simple smile could be the first-aid kit that someone has been looking for.
If you believe with absolute honesty that you are doing everything you can - do more. There will be bad days, Times when the world weighs on you for so long it leaves you looking for an easy way out. There will be moments when the drought of joy seems unending. Instances spent pretending that everything is alright when it clearly is not, check your blind spot. See that love is still there, be patient.
Every nightmare has a beginning, but every bad day has an end. Ignore what others have called you. I am calling you "friend". Make us comprehend the urgency of your crisis. Silence left to its own devices, breed's silence. So speak and be heard. One word after the next, express yourself and put your life in the context - if you find that no one is listening, be loud. Make noise. Stand in poise and be open. Hope in these situations is not enough and you will need someone to lean on. In the unlikely event that you have no one, look again.
Everyone is blessed with the ability to Listen. The Deaf will hear you with their Eyes. The Blind will see you with their Hands. Let your Heart fill their news-stands, let them read all about it. Admit to the bad days, the impossible nights. Listen to the insights of those who have been there, but come back. They will tell you; you can stack misery, you can pack disappear you can even wear your sorrow - but come tomorrow you must change your clothes.
Everyone knows Pain. We are not meant to carry it forever. We were never meant to hold it so closely, so be certain in the belief that what pain belongs to now will belong soon to then. That when someone asks you "how was your day", realize that for some of us, it's the only way we know how to say "be calm".
Loosen your grip, opening each palm, slowly now - let go."
I last listened to this as a suicidal teenager, and now I'm coming back to it as a mother of two. It's still just as profound. This man's words have saved me more than once
I'm so proud of you! Keep going
I'm.glad you're still here with us
Similar story here! Hope you’re still doing well
God bless you...and may He hold you - ALWAYS - hold you in His almighty hands.
ME TOO! Today I’m a psychologist and take care of other suicidal people. THINGS DO GET BETTER
"love and hate are beasts, and the one that grows is the one you feed"
Yep we can hear.
+sam kreston lmao
sam kreston just quoting my favourite part of the poem, is that wrong?
thats my favorite
thats my favorite
The line that ALWAYS gets me :
“Remember the times you could have pressed quit, but you hit Continue.”
I sob EVERY time.
Me too.
I plan on pressing quit when my youngest is 18, 5 more years
Crying rn
@@pinkahboo925 please press continue.
As a gamer, I relate to it !
These words are medicine.
Shane Koyczan's work has saved my life. I will always share his poetry with people who have suffered as I have. ❤
To This Day - t.co/cuPCib0iu5
A Letter To Remind Myself Who I Am - t.co/jfUYASaoD8
My anxiety and depression were gang beating my whole ass today. These words really are medicine.
I agree
Yep
Coming back to these words like a moth to the flame today.
I will let these words carry me thru.
For 11 years I have returned to this video time and again, every time I reach a point where I want to break, and every time it helps me keep it together. Always, there is light, my friends
“Ignore what others have called you, I’m calling you friend” put a lump in the back of my throat, deep and powerful words.
since i was 14, i have come to this audio every time i feel the lowest. thank you for saving me, each time. i’m 19 now. i still have my days, but this audio reminds me how far i’ve come. Thank you Shane, from me and all the other broken people trying their best to mend ❤️
I came here at 14 too. ❤️ I’m now 28. We hit continue. ❤️❤️ x
This has gotten me through so much. Every time i feel like i want to leave, i watch this and it actually makes me feel better. I think its safe to say Shane Koyzcan has saved more than a few lives with his work
"Be the weed growing through the cracks in the cement, beautiful - because it doesn't know it's not supposed to grow there"
does this mean I can go naked on the streets knowing I'm not supposed to do that?
SpookDogg Wrong, you can go naked, if you do not know that it is wrong. According to this logic.
be resolute
SpookDogg You know you're not supposed to do that.
@@realSpook have at it, champ
I hope that the author of these words knows that they have touched many souls. I have the link to this video saved so I can access it easily to listen to it again and again in my darkest moments. They are words to live by and live for when one wants to give up. Thank you a million times for these words that have pulled me up time and again. Thank you.
the author is Shane Koyczan :)
ME TOO!
Jasmin Lovern 3 years do u still havr it saved
With all of his work ; If a hug was a person, it’s fucking Shane. He’s like.. a sad, happy, empowering, kick in the ass, kiss on the neck, a comforting and friendly hello or I missed you hug. He’s so underrated. The man is a wholesome genius. I’ll never not share his work to anyone who needs it.
instructions for a depression thats been lasting for years, thank you...
There's good in this world AND IT'S WORTH FIGHTING FOR.
I could be on the street, bleeding out, knife in my heart, and listen to this and get up, go home, take a shower, drive to the ER, and live.
I could listen to this man read the weather. Instead I enjoy the privilege of hearing something harvested from a man's soul. So beautiful.
This poem very literally saved my life.
Thank you.
"a simple smile is the first aid kit someone has been looking for" every time I see someone that comes off as negative energy and emotion, I send my positive thoughts and energy to them through such a simple smile.
Best part about this is that if the need it it's welcomed. And if they're just jerks it annoys the hell out of them.. win/win.
This video saved my life 6 years ago
I got part of this tattooed on me a month and a half ago and I still get chills every time I listen to it. These words are my medicine.
What part? If you don't mind me asking?
@@StonesFireDesigns “always there is light” :)
Ty for being that light for others especially in these dark days
I'm not good at writing emotional things, I was always taught to hide my feelings from the world so sorry if this is poorly written.
Last night was the lowest time in my life, I had lost so many people whether it be through death or them just leaving. I couldn't take it anymore and no one was listening to me. But for the first time I managed to ask for help, a last call for someone before i ended my life. I'm not going to say something cheesy like I found this in my youtube recommended because watching this was an after fact. But right before I decided to tell all my friends goodbye a friend of mine texted me a drawing they were working on for me. I know it's silly that such a simple thing could make me change my mind, but to me it was a sign i wasn't the only person left in the world. This morning I checked the post I made to say goodbye and a person told me I should watch this- and it made me happy again. It gave me hope.
So thank you, I guess I'm gonna be on this earth for a bit more time
I am glad you are still with us. You are loved.
I really needed this today. Started crying halfway though.
I'm glad that I found this. I've been falling back into my depression and it's terrifying and harsh and it makes it so very difficult to remember the good moments and words that I've given others with similar experiences. Within the first third seconds of this video, I felt an unbelievable sense of calm. Thank you. A million times, thank you.
the audio is by Shanr Koyczan, he makes many uplifting and beautiful videos
I save this for all my bad days. Really uplifting. It sparks a hope I didn't think I had anymore.
i watch this video every time i am sad, it turns my mood right around
still true
Same , he's words are like medicine
I got “speak and be heard” tattooed on my wrist as a sad 18 year old. This man was at times the only good voice in my head during those years ❤️
I'm going through a bad time now.. and This video helped me.. from the bottom of my heart.. *Thank You*
You aren't alone.
Favourited this about 30 seconds in.
So well done.
Can't make it through this without sobbing. So much beauty and love in these words!!
over a decade later and these words still comfort me in my highs and my lows.
Damn son, son people are blessed with the gift of conveying power with words and this guy is one of them
Let Go, Let God, Let Good! I posted the link to this video on my facebook ten years ago, with a photo of me and my shadow, holding a glass of red wine. Praise God that I found the real remedy to my thirst! I found the true presence of all that sustains me... the Traditional Latin Mass is a gift and a grace from God... His promise to us that He will be with us until the end of time. Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity! Lord, make my house a prayer to you, and let Your heart be my eternal home. 🥰 JMJ
No matter how many times you listen to these words it's never enough. Every bad day...well, here I am.
I never knew that words could be so beautiful
I cannot say how many times I have come back to this poem. I love this so much! It moves me so deep within myself! Thank you.
It is 2020, and COVID is making most mid class citizens around the world, #stayhome.
Well, not everybody can stay home; and not every one home is actually having a good time.
Disfunctional families, broken homes, toxic environments and whatnot, cause frictions.
I watched this video for the first time on May 2018 (and two years before that) and thought of it tonight.
Listening to this helps a bit.
"Check your blind-spot...see that love is STILL there..." ❤
"In the unlikely event that you have no one...look again."
This in all its drama is more than I need so in that I am lucky.
I overly analyse:The warm generous voice, sumptuous yet softly resonant. The music, a bit much at times -- 'wouldn't hurt to "ease up" here and there. Especially eq the volume since the voiceover gets swamped at times. The graphics'editing , so fine, each shot brilliant, and each one piercing my heart.... and do on blah bluh-blan..... . . THEN I read the comments and melt apart at the sweetness and honest vulnerability and beauty of my brothers and sisters. I feel fortunate to have come upon these shared experiences
I'm sort of a loner, and tonight I found out that a couple of people I care about were not, asI had assumed, actually shopping at the supermarket where I would meet with them for some quick "hello"s, They were coming after long days' work just to share a few moments. It may seem a small gesture but it's not. It's quite a walk for them and i know by that time of the day they're tired; I know Herb's feet are sore. On some nights they weren't even shopping at all! It really hit me, just stopped me in my tracks as we were parting ways. I was touched at once with such buoyancy and uch gladness. Generally not afraid to show emotion, I was overwhelmed so quickly that the welling up hit instantly. I really couldn't speak. I ducked away and mumbled Thank you as we parted Liz called back thank 5You and I'm feeling "she's thanking ME?" I know they have a good time when were together. But I was just captured by their generosity. And, through the alchemy that is gratitude, I am expanded in its attendant awe. Is there anything more cleaning than this blessing?
Earlier I wept in gladness as I do now I know that again these sweet tears will shne up my face with joy.
Sometimes the little things aren't little
Thank you video and thanks so much to so many here for helping to afford me the possibility of this moment.
I appreciate your time.🏇
I listened to this for the first time the night my dad died. A long battle with ALS... I have a lot of regret.. of guilt and sadness. But I come back to this at least once a week. It.. is the only thing keeping me going.
When I feel the ghosts of war coming to haunt me, I listen to this.
Thnak you for your service :)
Idc if this is 9 years later. His voice just touches the soul. Making you take it to heart.
I am a dancer and a few years back I did a dance to this “song” but it ended at 2:13 after “but you hit continue”. This was the first time that I heard the complete song and it truly brought me to tears. These lyrics are beautiful and so inspirational ❤️ thank you so much to the author for sharing your wisdom
that’s beautiful, i wish i could’ve seen that performance
Great message ! But music is too loud...be calm !
"Be the weed growing through the cracks in the cement, beautiful, because it doesn’t know it’s not supposed to grow there. " this sentence helps me to make so many brave decisions.
I'll never forget this video, I saw it for the first time when I was just learning English, and till this day I will always remember these words, I was in deep sh*t at the time, and after listening to it I had hope again, these words will always be remembered
I listen to this a few times a year and have for almost ten years. Thank you
Thanks again for helping me through another hard day🤝
"If you think for one second no one knows what you've been going through, then be accepting of the fact that you are wrong. That the long-drawn and heavy breaths of despair have at times been felt by everyone. That pain is part of the human condition and that alone makes you a legion."
Each sentence is as powerful as the next. My favorite piece
Wow. I had to keep pressure on my arm to stay grounded to the real world, because Shane...you swept me away.
I needed to hear this today. Thank you.
"Love and Hate are beasts, and the one that grows is the one you feed".
So true.
few years ago. on my birthday. weeping. alone. this is so good.
"A simple smile could be the first-aid kit that someone has been looking for."
Wow, so... a long time ago, I'd hit a big bump in the road and I needed to be away from family. So I found myself sitting on a bench at the local park, and an old woman came jogging by. Maybe she noticed that I looked sad, but she slowed down a bit, smiled at me and said "hello!". I remember saying it right back at her, and when she disappeared around the corner, all of a sudden I was crying. Happy tears, though! And I felt really warm. That was good, because Canadian Winters can really suck.
There's power in smiles and greetings. Some people, that's all they need to keep going down their own bumpy roads. And hopefully where they're going, they find something better.
Shane Koyczan could be one of the most amazing people of this generation.
Beautiful - Bad days will pass, it is only a day or a moment...don't make it into a bad week, or bad life. It will pass. Pain is part of the human condition. It nourishes courage and you will become so much stronger...and even better because of it. Peace :)
I used to listen to this so often when I was in a really dark place. Listening to it now, I want to cry because it really did give me the strength to keep going. Thank you Shane Koyczan for all that you do. All that you’ve written. Thank you for being there when no one was.
I watch this video everyday at 7:00am... I'm not having a bad day everyday but I want to remember that I if I am, it is not the end... I just have to remember: "...be calm. Loosen your grip, opening each palm, slowly now -- let go."
shane i get seasonal depression up here in the frozen north and your poetry helps me get throgh the especially rough days
These are some unique spoken words. Very inspirational. "...there are no free extra men..."
I can not love this video enough. It has brought me through the worst times over the past few years.
I always come back to this in my darkest moments. These words have saved me.
This has gotten me through so much. I honestly watch it whenever I feel I've lost control. I'm so thankful for this video. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
having something like cancer is a bad day, having chronic pain is a bad day, dying is a bad day, anything else is a bonus. Feeling down isn't a bad day its the result of self absorption.Now I should probably watch the video:)
This is beautiful. This very bad day of loosing my friend. This is what I need to hear. again. and again. and again. and again.
I have been coming back to this video for over four years now. Every time, it makes me cry, and every time, I feel inspired to make my bad day into a good one. It feels good to know that I’m not alone. Thank you. Thank you.
The irony is , my mother couldn't ever speak to me like this in any capacity . She sent me this video via Facebook and I recently found it . I guess this is my motivation going forward since this is the kind of support I always wanted from my parents.... I guess I got it in another way. This video helps me move forward. No contact is the hardest thing I have ever done , but it's the most soul rewarding thing i have ever done ❤
I love seeing people still coming back to this poem. It has helped me so much through all my bad days and Im glad reading back through old comments that so many people have been in the same position as me and have proceeded to hit "Continue".
My friend who was struggling with depression and anxiety showed me this when I first met him...and when I could tell he was upset I would play it and hold his hand...rub his shoulder. He passed away from overdose two days ago...and I never found myself in need to listen to this video other than right now. I miss you so much Zach
This poem saved my life
I've been having a bad day for the past 2 years, and plan to continue for the foreseeable future.
Hit me in the gut. Its amazing how what you didn't even know you needed to hear sometimes comes out of nowhere. Wow.
Like many of you, I first came across this video in my teens. I was fifteen or so. I was not in a great place and desperately needed to find hope. I got through it. Now, at 23, I am watching this so I can get through a tough workday. I’m working at my dream job and am months away from moving to my dream state. Thank you for this wonderful poem, Shane.
we used this for a color guard show, and we ended up getting second place at state. this will forever have a special place in my heart for that
Probably the best inspirational words I've ever heard. Amazing!
I had a partly bad day. Encouraging words from a sweet young lady. Thanks
I've lived this story for the past 3 years. Thank you for make a video of my life. Love it all.
Powerful. Thanks for sharing.
I watch this every single time I have a bad day. Love it.
One of the most inspiring videos I've ever watched...
I got yelled at work by my boss. I told wrong information to customers. Jumping form one area to another in my city, each venue sells the same thing, but each one has different prices, and different ways to get customers. Especially when the holidays are here like now. It's confusing for an adult like me with ADHD to remember it all. And this Venue, I only been there twice... The big mistake was my second time there. She pulled me aside to yell, and I told her I thought it was like the other venues.... She called me a liar. She told me we sold only one Item unlike the other venues. I did not lie... I simply forgotten....
It hurt so badly to be called a liar... When I simply just forgotten.
This helped me a bit... thank you.
Being called a liar when you are telling the dead truth is probably one of the hardest, most frustrating types of pains in my opinion
Same... I have adhd as well but for me...its that I have two power hungry managers and one just told me today (I've worked there for longer than he has and over a year) that I can't clock on 10 minutes early ....because of payroll and he said he noticed that I did that day....it was busy the whole fucking day...I wanted to be a good employee...(the funny thing is he also keeps people past their leaving time) next time when I close with him and he wants me to stay 10 mins longer im not going to do that for him..
I love Shane Kozczan so much... a beautiful man, spirit, voice for this generation... and I forgive him for being a Canadian. ;) To the maker of this compilation... interesting images. Thank you.
I recite this to myself whenever things get out of control. I swear it works magic.
It's so hard for us to learn this and difficult to remember. Thank you for the reminder.
" If you think for one second no one knows what you have been going through, he accepting of the fact that you are wrong"That one gets me everytime... It is something that I have to remind myself everyday when I feel like I am alone.
The pain I'm feeling is indescribable but this helped me today and I will save it to help me through the bad days ahead. Thank you, from the very bottom of my soul, thank you for this video.
Julyanna Monero Stay alive, one day you'll be glad to be able to expierence all this❤You're loved
Thank you
Ray's last day Thank you
Still a piece that I come back and back to when things are hard... thanks for making this 💙.
Thank you for this I watched this multiple times, but today, it speaks much louder.
Love this, but the music volume needs to be brought down a bit so I can hear those beautiful words
Agreed!
Oh, agreed!
I agree Nora! Unfortunately the audio (voice and music) is mixed by Shane himself, and I think he intentionally made it louder, forcing those listening to focus hard in order to really listen to his words. However, I did add the lyrics to the description in case you want to follow along! It's an amazing poem! :)
Thanks for doing that Jon, it was helpful. He's got such an amazing voice, and it's almost tragic that you can't hear it! That's what draws you in, and the music should just be ambient filler. It really is a beautifully written piece...but I have yet to hear one of his poems be written or spoken badly :)
I stopped the video and the audio continued without the music as loud.
I had a bad day... I thought of this, it helped. I hope for these words to give me strength, I really need it right now
I saw this for the 1st time at 14. I’m 22 and I still come back to watch when I need to. Thank you. It has pulled me out of some dark head spaces.
Since I joined the army I’ve come back to this every now and then, it’s been almost 10 years and almost 6 since I got out.
To the person who made this, thank you.
I left the army with so much hate and anger, I’ve come so far since then and I’ve found peace in helping others. In times of despair this video kept me going.
I have only ever listened to this in the past when I had literally no-one and that always made me feel angry and bitter, but the rest of the poem made me feel strong for myself. It has been years since I listened to it and I have not been touched by anger in years. I have made the most beautiful friends and today has been a bad day. But I was loud, I made them "read all about it" and was overwhelmed with the love and support my friends have given me as a result. Now as I listen I am crying my eyes out at every single line, and we are talking blubbery snotty mess crying, the words are more poignant now then they ever have been and it all makes me feel so grateful for those moments that I hit continue. Thank you for getting me through some of those harder times, and thank you for helping me realise that I am loved and I love unconditionally more than I ever thought I could. (I know Shayn will most likely never see this, but I just needed to let the other lovers of this know, there is beauty and light far beyond the darkest moments, so please hit continue)
There will never be a day where I don’t listen to this video and cry. Cry tears of joy, sadness, despair, happiness… this poem has guided me through so many difficult times as a teenager and also as a young adult. I will forever cherish this video. I don’t have words to explain how much this poem means to me
I adore that each time I watch it (because I'm in need of a little hope & inspiration right now) I find some new little nugget of insight that I didn't notice last time... that I really get to savor it because I get it just a bit more on a deeper level. And I'm so sad for the people so cynical, and so depressed that they would thumbs down such a beautiful message. :( I would hug you so hard if you'd let me. I spent 25 years living like that. I'm still cynical, but from a questioning and learning place...and not from despair & hopelessness. It makes a world of difference. Anyways, thanks for those of you dreaming of a nicer world.
I have this video bookmarked. It keeps me going
I think my new goal will be to listen to Koyczan every morning before I have a day because it's inoculation against experiencing a bad day. A bad day could still happen after listening to Koyczan, but one would just be observing/experiencing/handling it. Practically every other phrase this gentle genius soul puts out is a way to experience and feel pain without being gravely wounded.
I won’t ever forget this video, it’s part of me, my soul
Not only for those having a bad day , These things are really good to hear !
Stunningly beautiful and poignant. The poem, the reading, the music, and the video combine to create an incredibly powerful reminder that this moment in time is a gift. If it is hard, we can learn from it; if it easy, we can share it with a smile.
This piece is such a blessing. It’s been my favorite spoken word for years and at least once every 8-14 months or so I send it out to everyone I love. I’ve got the transcript saved to my notes to read through. It grounds me, humbles me, and makes me feel connected. Thank you for sharing a part of your heart with us Shane; I’m so glad you exist ♡
Nice reading of Shane Koyczan's poem "Instructions for a Bad Day" set to images from the documentary project "Life in a Day."
Love these lines:
"Love and hate are beasts and the one that grows is the one you feed."
"If you are having a good day, be considerate. A simple smile could be the first-aid kit that someone has been looking for. "
"Silence left to its own devices, breeds silence."
I come back to this poem time and again 💚💚