So much has happened this year. If someone had told me back on New Years, this is what would have happened, I would have thought they were high…or just completely insane. But alas, it did. And I don’t regret one second of it. To those of you who know me, you know I don’t believe in regrets. Life is too short for them. Everything happens for a reason, even if we don’t know that reason right then…we tend to figure it out later. I’m not going to try to explain on here what happened with Will. All that matters is it did, and it had to. For my sake, and maybe even for his. I don’t know. All I know is I wasn’t being what or who I needed to be for me, and I couldn’t keep doing what I was or it would have broken me completely. And I don’t blame him for that. He caused absolutely no part of what I was doing. It was my need to avoid conflict, my need to try to be perfect. And that’s not healthy. People aren’t perfect, relationships aren’t perfect. But anyways, it was what it was, and now it’s over. It was amazing, and I will never forget Will as long as I live, but now I’m doing what I need to do for me. I’m happy… most of the time anyways. But I’m trying and I’m doing what I can to make sure I’m happy. And that’s what matters. People in this life need to be happy. To cherish each and every day as it comes. Steve Jobs (R.I.P) once said that he woke up every morning and thought to himself that if it was his last day, what would he want to do? And when he went to bed, he thought that if that day was his last, would he regret anything he had done? And if his answer was no, he knew he did the right thing. That’s how more people should live. People need to be doing the good thing, the right thing, every day to help better themselves and others. And that’s what I’m trying to be. I found this 15 lessons to the pursuit of happiness, and I want to share it with you. Whoever you may be, I hope this makes you think. And I hope you follow it. I know I’m doing my best to. And whatever you’re doing in your day, I hope you’re smiling. Always smile. Even if you’re not happy, smile. As my organic chemistry teacher says, “Fake it ‘til you make it.” If you pretend to be happy long enough, eventually that happiness will be real.

The Pursuit of Happiness: 15 Lessons to Keep in Mind

1. The only person that can ever truly make you happy is yourself. Stop depending on everyone else.

2. People lie, stuff happens. Don’t take it too personally.

3. Want people to think you’re amazing? Start believing you are, and then they will too.

4. Smiling is the ultimate anti-depressant. Smile and laugh out loud, it doesn’t look stupid, I promise.

5. The world is never just black and white, right or wrong, one way or another. Try and see things from as many points of view as possible.

6. "Let everything happen to you
Beauty and terror
Just keep going
No feeling is final"
— Rainer Maria Rilke

7. Have empathy.

8. Gossip, problems of the past, events you cannot control, negative thoughts and negative people; time spent on these is time poorly wasted.

9. When you're jealous or find yourself filled with hate for someone/something, stop. The only person its hurting is you.

10. Although the newest, most expensive material things may make you feel as if you’re a better person, they won’t hold you at night or listen to you when you need it. Make sure your priorities make sense.

11. Step outside your comfort zone- it’s when you’ll really feel alive.

12. Don’t be afraid to be yourself, the people who really matter, don’t mind

13. Let your emotions out sometimes, humans have them for a reason.

14. Celebrate the things you have. Think only positively of the things you don’t (but would like to have) and they too will come.

15. Love unconditionally ♥.

Some Advice...

I found this while stumbling today…the site I got it from claimed they weren’t the author, so I can’t really give credit to anyone, but I really liked it. So whoever wrote this, thank you. It’s incredible. I hope this helps others out there to live their lives the way everyone should – as if each day is your last. Never take anything for granted, you don’t know when it won’t be there anymore.

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be (possibly your roommate, neighbor, co-worker, longest friend, lover, or even a complete stranger) but when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment that they will affect your life in some profound way.

Some people come into our lives and quickly go.

Some people move our souls to dance.

They awaken us to new understanding with the passing whisper of their wisdom.

Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon.

They stay in our lives for awhile, leave footprints in our hearts,
and We are never, ever the same.

And sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower, or heart. Everything happens for a reason, nothing happens by chance or by means of luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless. The people you meet who affect your life, and the success and downfalls you experience help to create who you become.

Even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones.

If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious when you open your heart. If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things.

Make every day count!! Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people that you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself; it will be hard for others to believe in you.

You can make of your life anything you wish. Create your own life then go out and live it with absolutely no regrets.