Warning: Another rant post because I'm just annoyed with people a lot lately.

I've noticed a lot lately that people are such downers. STOP THAT! You ruin the moods around people around you! Yeah, I can understand if you're depressed, but it's still possible to find a way to be happy-- even if that thing is a little sliver. I know there's a lot of stress people face everyday, but the world isn't a dark place if you don't make it dark. I know I should be more considerate, but I'm really not. Don't be such a Negative Nelly and find something to be happy about!

"Have some empathy, Storm" "Don't be so heartless!" Yeah, yeah. Welp, I'm going to be. Why? Because I know what it feels like. I suffer from depression and I have done so since the day I lost my brother nearly four years ago. However, I don't let it define who I am. Sure, there are days where I wish I could just step onto the freeway in front of my house and just rid myself of all those overwhelming thoughts, but I don't. I have so much to live for. It's an accomplishment getting up every morning and to be alive. I have a family -and despite the mild abuse- I still love them. I saw what it did to lose my brother. It tore people apart. It tore me apart - to the person I am now. I would never ever ever wish that on anyone else. I also have my friends. I may not have lots of them in person. Maybe one that I'm not related to, but my cousins are the closest thing I have to friends in person. I also have all my online friends. My online family. I care so much about every single one of them. They have all impacted my life in some way. Some negative and some positively. Very positive. There's even basic things I'm thankful for. Like, my cat, Zuko. Everyone knows about him. I have a roof over my head and I have food. I may not have as much as other people, but I am so thankful for what I have in my life. I'm especially thankful for my girlfriend. She makes me that happiest person ever and she's just amazing. She puts up with me and she's so unbelievably understanding. I'm so lucky to have her in my life.

Yeah, those people not be lucky enough to even have a handful of things I have, but there's still things to be thankful for. Or even feel positive about. You get to live another day, you get to make friends, you get to live your life. Don't let those negative things get to you. A lot of things can happen in a twenty-four hour day. Negative and positive. Focus on the positive. It could be something from getting accepted to the school you wanted to a random stranger smiling at you on the street. If you focus on the negative that's all you'll see-- the negative around you. And, in turn, you'll end up brushing that off on someone else.

Don't be a downer. Don't be a mood-ruiner. Find reasons to be happy. Things aren't going to come to you. Don't be lazy and go out looking for it. It's there.