The amount of days I have felt sad and depressed because of things that went on at home or at school are too many to count. There was always that longing for someone to confide in, someone to help me feel better. Well, It turns out I had that someone all along except it was not a someone, it was a place. That place was Chipotle.

Let me tell you, these past two years have definitely been some rough ones for me but, with some help from (boy)friend Chipotle, they've been a bit more bearable. It all started when my now favorite Swampscott Chipotle worker, whispered those magical words that would change my life forever: ”Burrito or bowl?”

On the days I was sad, Chipotle made me happy. On the days when I was starving and felt like I could eat everything Chipotle filled me. On those days I was, as we say, “ballin' on a budget,” Chipotle satisfied my wallet. During the week, I thought I would be vegan, Chipotle was there for me. Oh, and that other week I thought I could actually be gluten free, I mean, I can literally taste the love the workers put into my burrito when I take that first bite. I truly feel special when I walk inside that beautiful modern dark red building and they remember my order. Truth is, Chipotle has always been there for me, and I have not realized it until now.

Many people say that happiness is not determined by what’s happening around you, but rather by what’s happening inside you. I can now confirm that, because the happiness I feel when that chicken and brown rice reaches my stomach is a happiness I have never felt before. I mean, who would have thought that bland looking tortilla had such greatness inside it.

I’ve realized not to think of cost but to think of value. Not to choose the one who is beautiful to the world; but to choose the one who makes my world beautiful, even if that happens to be a soft shell taco. No matter how good or bad (which is not possible) my Chipotle is, I wake up each day thankful for my life because someone somewhere else is desperately fighting through their Qdoba. Try not to overlook the little things in life because sometimes It's the little things in life, like Chipotle, that mean the most.