Chase your happiness

Bad things happen. Sometimes you see them coming, and other times, it'll crash into you like a truck. (You may think this is just a simile but I actually got hit by a truck this year.) (It was the first day of semester 2 and that's when I knew what the following months would be like.) Whether you are going through a messy breakup, had a fallout with your friends, were fired from your only job, lost your licence, failed a unit (or two,) this is for you.

I don't know how many of you will get this reference, but if you wanna know more, watch the Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away. ^_^ (although this picture won't be as funny if you had to study it for a year in Japanese Extension for your HSC.)

Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. This is one quote someone on askfm two years ago had in their bio, and although it seems like just another cliché, it's true. I've learnt that no matter what happens, you should always get up, dress up, and show up. The best revenge is to move on, get over it, and continue to succeed. You should never give someone the satisfaction of watching you suffer.

Not every day is good, but there is always something good in each day. Maybe you got your winged eyeliner right on the first go. Perhaps the barista wrote your name before you told him. Or maybe you saw a dog. (If that doesn't make you smile, I don't know what will.)

I think sometimes we underestimate ourselves and what we are worth. But I believe that the bottom line is, we deserve to be happy... and the first step is to see the positive side, even if it feels like the whole world is against you. You won't feel better if you always complain about your problems or about other people. Focus on yourself and don't compare yourself to anyone. Most negative thoughts are self inflicted. If you can't find anything worth living for, find something worth dying for.

Time doesn't heal if you do the same thing every day. What changes people are experiences, and those they surround themselves with. One day you will fall in love, and it won't even have to mean anything. It could just be with how the sky changes colour in the morning as the sun rises, or with the adrenaline rush when you go to the skate park. And if you hate the thought of feelings, just remember I too used to dance with a different stranger at every party I went to in my first year of uni. There are thousands of books you haven't bothered to read, and new songs coming out every day. Things will get better.

Stay away from vodka and don't re-read old conversations. Don't check your bank account balance, or calculate your GPA - just pretend everything is okay. Did you know scar tissue is stronger than regular tissue? No matter how alone you feel, you always have yourself, and I think that's the most important person. Life goes on. Will you?