Chicken Soup for the Average Soul

Recently, my family went through a bit of an episode. My mom wrote about it on her blog and she received so many kind words and prayers. It’s crazy to know how many people have gone through similar situations or worse situations–it really puts things into perspective.

It’s nice to be optimistic, but you also have to allow yourself to feel what your mind is telling you to feel. If you want to be mad, be mad! Yell and scream and write angry letters. If you wanna be sad, be sad! Cry, listen to sad music, sleep, and get drunk. If you don’t express how you’re feeling, it’s becomes more difficult to get over everything.

The most important thing to surround yourself with uplifting people that will take your mind off of everything. A lot of people know just what to say. Validation is key when you’re feeling down and out. When people agree with you, you don’t feel quite as crazy. Some people say the wrong things though. They don’t know the situation and they’ll jump to wrong conclusions. It’s likely that they think they’re helping by thinking of the worst case scenario, but those are probably the worst things you could say. Some people just don’t get it.

But for every one of the people that don’t get it, there are twenty that do. Blogging is a great way to find all the people that make you feel happy and warm inside even when life is already good. It’s crazy how you don’t even have to meet people to have such a strong connection with them. And now I’m blogging about blogging. All time low.

But in all seriousness, it’s great to know that there are so many good people out there in the world and that we aren’t the only ones with problems. It kind of restores your faith in humanity when you read all of the kind things that people say to comfort those in need.

Anyway, don’t worry, I’m sure I’ll be back to my sarcastic, cold-hearted self by tomorrow.

Separation

Here's a picture of a sad little clown girl to represent my emotions.

If you’ve never been separated from a loved one, consider yourself lucky. It seriously stinks. Paul left to go back home to Canada today. I figured it would be worthwhile to stay at my parent’s house a little longer so I could have some quality family time and so I could “help out” (whatever that means). Basically it was my idea to stay longer. It sounded like a good idea at the time.

I don’t know if you have seen the movie, Like Crazy, but it seems like a similar situation. I actually didn’t get a chance to see it, but I know it’s about two people who want to be together but they can’t. Obviously Paul and I can be together since we’re married, but I remember a time when we wouldn’t see each other for the entire summer and then we would reunite for the entire school year and then separate again. It’s rough. Especially when you have to deal with only being in a country for a certain amount of time (which I believe the movie focuses on). Like Crazy is the worst title, by the way. Like. Crazy. Just no.

Its a weird feeling: wanting to be in a certain place but also wanting to be somewhere else. I want to be home. I want to be with my family. But I also want to be with Paul in our little home. I guess I should just focus on the good things that I have here, because once I go back to Canada, I won’t be able to have them.

Why is life full of so many choices? Why does it have to be this or that? I mean, I have been very lucky in life. I shouldn’t complain about missing someone that I will end up seeing in 2 weeks. It’s just hard.

Have you guys ever had a situation where you missed someone so much that it hurt not being with them? Am I over-dramatic? Yes. But seriously, answer the question and make me feel better.

The Worst Excuse

I had never lived on the west coast before I moved to Victoria, B.C. I never even paid attention to the west coast. Actually, I never even paid attention to anywhere outside of Illinois. Living on an island above Seattle, we get Seattle-like weather here. Not as rainy, but still occasional gloominess.

My new favorite thing is when people say that they have SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder. I agree that rain and snow are depressing and can cause people to feel tired and depressed. Totally understandable. But isn’t that just part of how the seasons work? Shouldn’t you be used to rain and winter since, I don’t know, birth? Seasonal affective disorder = being human.

What I really love is when people use this as an excuse not to do things. I am the queen of unnecessary excuses. I cancel on people but I usually just tell them I’m too lazy to do something that takes little to no effort. But when you have to come up with an excuse like, “Sorry I can’t make it, my SAD is really kicking in today” then you should just consider ending your life. Buy a full spectrum light and get over it.

I also like how it’s called a “disorder” as if only certain people have it. I’m pretty sure everyone I have ever met feels gross and lazy when it’s rainy and feels awesome when it’s sunny. That’s not a disorder, that’s just life. Kind of like when parents claim that their children have ADD when they really just gave them too much juice.

I would respect people so much more if they just said how they were feeling instead of making excuses. Everything you’re feeling doesn’t need a title in order for it to be considered an actual complaint. Just say, “I feel depressed” instead of “I have seasonal affective disorder so that’s why I’m so depressed.”  Groan. Just leave the complaining to me, okay?