Everybody has bad days. Sometimes, the bad days just require some comfort food, a good cry, or a nap, and then you feel better. Other days, though, everything feels miserable and all of your mountains seem insurmountable. Sometimes, when I have particularly bad days, where I feel so depressed that I can't even cry, I try to think of the good things happening in the world, even if they're not happening to me. Here are some things to remember on the bad days:
1. Somewhere, someone is falling in love.
Out there, right now, a person is looking at someone else, and finding herself captivated with his smile, or the way her nose crinkles when he laughs, or the way he's mesmerized by the stars at night. And all that person wants to do is scream his or her love for that someone from the mountaintops.
2. Somewhere, someone is nursing an injured animal back to health.
The people who go out of their way to help injured animals, especially babies, are the best kind of people. They're pure, selfless, and care and love too much. These are the people who see an injured bird and wrap it up in a towel to bring to the vet, or find an injured lion cub and bottle-feed him so he gets big and strong. These are the people who bring love back into the world.
3. Somewhere, a teacher is taking extra time, that he or she won't get paid for, to help a struggling student.
Teachers who go above and beyond like that not only change the lives of the students they help, but also make the world a better place. Right now, a teacher is spending extra time helping a student who is struggling due to economic, social, developmental, or emotional reasons, and is doing so much more than teaching that student curriculum. He or she is teaching that student that there are people out there who really care about that student's well-being.
4. A dog is pulling on his leash to see a person walking down the street.
Is there anything more beautiful?
5. Someone just overcame adversity and completed a task no one believed he or she could complete.
Whether it be a man who lost his legs running a marathon, or a child with Downs Syndrome learning how to tie her shoe, the victory is a huge accomplishment and something beautiful. Someone tasted that victory just now, and may be crying tears of joy or celebrating with his or her family. These are the kinds of people that inspire others to face their mountains.
Even though the bad days suck, it's good to remember the beautiful things. Those make the bad days suck less. And if that doesn't work, wake up early and watch the sunrise. Nothing is more beautiful, serene, and calming than watching a new day start.
