Happiness

This blog was submitted by one of our clients. He is a GIPA volunteer blog writer. For more information on the GIPA position available please check out http://www.aidscalgary.org/getinvolved/gipa.cfm


For a long time I had been struggling with my depression. You know, having HIV, a few deaths in the family, etc. For the longest time it had all been about me, well I am coming to the realization that it is not all about me. There are much bigger things going on in the world today that I cannot even comprehend.

There are massive tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, bombs going off left, right, and center, planes crashing, and alien invasions. Ok I just made that one up, but you get the idea. My problems, if you want to call them that, are much smaller than I think. So what if I did drugs due to the fact that I have been horribly depressed? So what if I stole a car again due to depression? Sure, I made a whole bunch of people angry and disappointed in me. Did I kill anyone in the process? No! Did I hurt anyone in the process? Yes! The only person I hurt was myself, but I am now realizing I can change the past if I so choose to, and so can all of you. It is little steps.

So instead of whining and crying about my ridiculous rampage of self-destruction I have decided to do something about my life before it is too late. Well, I have been making small steps - that may sound stupid to some. First I got myself a cat. I would highly recommend that if you live alone. Animals are a great friend to have around, even if they want to play at 3 in the morning. Second, I got myself a new and fresh haircut and not some run of the mill hair cut - a mohawk, that's right, a mohawk. Another way to feel good about yourself is to start working out. You feel way healthier and happier in the long run. I could go on and on about what you should do to feel happier and healthier but you have to find that out for yourself and what is right for you. However there is one other thing I would recommend; start getting out more and connecting with the world again. Don't lay in bed all day eating junk food and getting fat. Go visit friends, go hang out at AIDS Calgary, go to those movie trips that AIDS Calgary plans. Talk to those friends that you have not talked to in ages and go for coffee. Before my depression I use to sky dive, mountain climb, bungee jump, and I even went spelunking; and somehow I lost all of that on the way but I am here to say that I am finding my way back and so can you!

What I am trying to say in the nicest possible way is stop whining and deal with your problems at hand. There are much greater things happening in the world today to worry about are small problems. You may have problems but our problems are not near as bad as the worlds problems. Make changes in your life. Sometimes change is good. You will be a much happier person I know I am.