Say it's a cold, rainy day and you have to wake up and go to school or work. You could slouch around, complain a bit, waste time and then go do whatever you have to do. Or, you could make the most of it. Take it as an opportunity to do something else and take joy in that something else. Maybe you’re finally able to inaugurate a new jacket or make a warm cup of coffee to have with breakfast. Whatever it is, you end up setting the mood for the rest of your day and you may end up enjoying it just that little bit more. 

Life takes turns. Forwards, backwards, left, right, up, down, inside out, upside down. And in order to stay on the path, you have to be able to cope with the obstacles thrown on that path. Sure, you could charge through it with a clouded head. For a while that may work, but definitely not forever. So why plough through, when you could mould it? It's all dependent on your perspective. 

So you must be thinking, this is all nice in theory. But how do I actually carry it out? 

1. Gratitude 

Let’s be honest, sometimes we all feel that the world is against us. But it really isn't. I know everyone says it, but it's true. Sometimes you have to tread the dirty grass before you get to the greener side. I’m not sure that's the exact phrase but it's close enough. 

Ever heard of the saying ‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger?’ Well, Kelly Clarkson is a genius because she wrote that one. What about ‘no pain, no gain?’ ‘You only reap what you sow?’ ‘It’s not how far you fall, but how high you bounce back?’ (Vamboa, 2019).

If you haven’t heard any of these, I don’t know where you’ve been living but repeat them to yourself daily. Maybe one day they’ll engrain themselves into your brain. By then, you would have completed Stage 1 of the 5 Stages to becoming the Greatest Person of All Time. 

2. Friends & Family 

We all think that in this vast planet filled with strange people, at least a handful are extremely annoying. But there are always a few who are almost exactly like you. Most often, they are your closest friends. If no one comes to mind after reading that sentence, all I have to say is, go find yourself some best friends because you are seriously missing out. It’s easier to stay positive when you’re surrounded by the people you love. And before you say anything, no, no I have not forgotten about family. They’re a given. Oh I did forget about pets though. A cute puppy would be a really great stress reliever right now.  

3. Laugh

Laugh at everything. Trust me. It’ll make life so much more fun. Maybe you’re the one making the joke. I’ve always appreciated a good sense of humour. Either way, I don’t have much else to say on this point so just, laugh. Laugh as hard as you can. 

4. You Time

Some days can really suck. It’s on those days that you should take some time for yourself and do something you love. Play a sport. Read a book. Draw. Paint. Sing. Dance. It doesn’t matter. Just do something that gives you joy, something that brings a smile to your face, something that makes you feel relaxed, energetic, calm, and appreciative. Whatever it is, lift that stress off your shoulders and give yourself some “me time”. 

5. Exercise your brain and body

This one may seem a little out of the blue. But you do need to function. Engage your mind once in a while, whether that be creatively or academically. Keep it awake, working, thinking and processing. You’ll feel refreshed and smarter…as long as you don’t overwork yourself. The same goes for your body. No one is telling you to spend an hour at the gym every day, or at least I hope not, but maybe you go for a run, play a sport, dance or even just walk. Anything to make you feel like you haven’t been moping around at home all day, in some sort of slump. 

Anyway, I’m pretty proud of myself for writing all of that. I probably made a difference in thousands of lives. Anytime you're unsure, just think of what I said. Maybe one day you’ll have the decency to add some credits, thanking me in the story of your life. It’s a reach, I know, but it's basic manners. Bye! (CHCP, 2022).

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