You know what sucks about being upset and down? You always tend to forget what it feels like to be happy and to not care. Your mind gets too distracted with the gloomy oxygen your blood carries to your brain that all you ever think about is how worthless your life is.
It's sad, I know. I, myself, have always had those times when I just want to pack my bags and fly to some place where happiness is like a penny you can simply find on a sidewalk. Sometimes, I would even wish that I had a harmless pill that laughs off every bad thing in this world.
For the past sixteen years of my existence, it had always been a rocky road for me to get all the way to where I am right now. I remember watching an episode of The Vampire Diaries once, and it was mentioned how based on everything we do here on Earth, there is always a balance of nature. In spite of the fact that the show is somehow fictional, there is really a balance of nature in reality. Meaning: when we're sad, we won't always be like that forever because life is balanced and if we let our patience rule over us, it won't be long before we're back on top. Trust me. Been there. Done that.
It might sound cliche, but life had always been a roller coaster to everyone, including you and me. Yes, it sucks to have a best friend not talk to you anymore, to be a stranger to the person you used to glorify, or to be emotionally tormented by your lover, not knowing when it lasts. That's why I now behold to you Poppy's Sunny Guide to Happiness. This might not exactly cure all that melancholy you're feeling right now, but hopefully, it will you get your mind off everything else.
01 Get enough sleep!
Sleep is always the easiest way out. You can sleep like a hibernated bear all you want, fine! As long as you don't have any scheduled classes or appointments ahead of you; otherwise, being awake is much more preferable. Yes, some of the sadness you're feeling might come back, but it won't make all your tests automatically get an A+, right? Besides, at least, there was a part of your day wherein every problem you had when you were awake disappeared. Poof!
Don't worry. You can always go back to sleep when you're all done with schedules and errands. I promise! Oh, and while you're at sleeping, why not dream about Alex Turner as well? Works every time!
02 Blast your speakers. Volume: 100
Blast the most upbeat song you have on your playlist, and sing at the top of your lungs! Bonus points if you dance your secret signature moves as well. Try not to care about your neighbors too! You have way more problems to shake off than them being disturbed by your crazy music tastes. This step can apply to earphones as well, as long as you got your volume in a loud but safe number.
03 Write down all that woe and misery. Burn it.
I remember having a friend once who was so mad that he wrote all his rage from the back of his English notebook during lecture time. It wasn't exactly upright for me to read his writings, but when I sneakily did just like any snoopy girl would, I tried to put in mind all the angry words and promises he wrote there. Why? Because I wanted to see if he would ever do all the things he wrote there months from then. A year later, I asked about that scenario again to him and how he's currently doing. Fortunately, he just laughed it off, told me he already forgot all about that, and said he is doing great at the moment.
Writing, as you see, is usually the best therapy for everyone. If you're more of a visual person, you can simply draw all your anger as well. Just make sure that you rip it up or burn it afterwards.
04 Weep.
The great thing about crying is that it dismisses most of the unhappy gases your body and head consumes. I think this was scientifically approved too. Anyway, weeping works all the time, and when all tears are dried up, you just couldn't help but feel a lot more better. I've done this multiple times, and I'm not ashamed of it. It doesn't matter if others think of you being shallow or childish. This is your happiness on the line, not theirs.
05 Talk to someone.
When I feel the tight grip inside my chest and couldn't hold it any longer, I always think about the three available options I have:
a) Run to my friends and rant about how horrible people are. The great thing about this is that they'll tell you their opinions as well and give you ideas of the right path. They have the automatic button to having fun too.
b) Talk to any of my three parents (mother, father, step-mother) because they're old and know life more than I do. This is also much more preferable, especially when your problem needs a much professional process. Who knows parents can be best friends too?
c) I log on my laptop and go to 7 Cups of Tea. I discovered this when I researched for sites that give free counseling sessions. I was in a very dark hole back then, and it felt as if no one understood me. 7 Cups of Tea, then, introduced me to a couple of trustworthy counselors who anonymously helped me get through everything else. It worked for others as well. Maybe it can do to you too.
06 Get out of the house! Run! Run! Run!
When I know house isn't the right place for me at the moment, I always make it a point to get out for a fresher air, and I run. I run until I feel tired and as if all the feelings I have seem less major. Afterwards, I'd go to our local cafe and sort things up, so that when I get back home, I already know what to do.
07 Watch How I Met Your Mother.
. . . and revel about how awesome Barney Stinson is.
The thing I very much admire about this show is that it's a mixture of drama and comedy. For every misfortune that happens in an episode, a solution comes up; balance of nature, as you see. How I Met Your Mother will certainly give you a few weeps and laughs, but most importantly, it gives you hope in life. Some of the characters might seem a bit more peculiar than normal people, but in the end, they're just like us. They strive hard to survive and get over it later on.
I'm not trying to advertise How I Met Your Mother though. I just really think that it's a nice show for everyone to watch, but if you have better ideas, then go for it!
08 Drink more warm chocolate or eat salad.
Before doing anything that I know exerts effort, including crying and whining about life, I always make sure to drink lots of warm chocolate because it sure is much better than coffee. Plus, it's refreshing. You don't know how it does, but chocolate can make you do amazing things. Just from one taste of it, everything else seem as sweet as it is. Same goes with salad, but not everyone loves salad. Anyway, I thought it's a much healthier option than beers and commercial foods people love nowadays. But if chips and alcohol make you happy, what else can I do? I'm still giving you a chance though . . . Say yes to chocolate!
09 Do something you love.
Sew, draw, blog, watch Skins re-runs . . . the ideas are endless. You just got to get your mind off somewhere more comforting. Who knows? You might get something better from it.
10 Weep some more.
You just can't get enough. And when you're done, look for the nearest mirror and smile.
You look better like that.
11 Let go.
With that I'll leave you with a better advice from someone in the internet, and I quote: "Accept the things you can't change. If you can and want to change them, do it. Realize that you are your own biggest critic. People do not see the faults in yourself that you do. So realize that they are not faults, not imperfections. They make you, you.".
And how about a little Beth Ditto as well? "Don’t hang out with people who don’t love you. Don’t try to impress people who aren’t worth it. Don’t try to win people over who aren't worth it. Focus on yourself, and focus on the people who are really awesome and who love you. Don’t hang out with people who make you feel like shit. Don’t spend your energy on them. There is so much pressure to be part of the right thing: well, you should create the right thing. If you don’t see it, create it. If you don’t see what you want, be the change you want to see."
So, what is your happy list?
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