. . . so you have Depression

My first real education on depression happened with my best friend.

Before this, depression was quite difficult for me to understand.

"I know you're sad, but you can get over it."

I tried desperately to snap my best friend out of it.

It wouldn't budge.

She would pull bitch fits on me; where before, I was the one throwing the hissy fits.

Out of this, I learned to be patient with others and not hold things against them.

I knew the real her; I knew she wasn't made of terror, anger, and frustration.

It was the d-e-p-r-e-s-s-i-o-n talking.

From personal experience, I can confidently say, you need to deal with someone with depression first hand to understand the impact. I feel like there is so much literature to self-identify depression within yourself or others, but never how to deal with it. Other than the proverbial, "s-e-e-k help."

Again, this is something that is learned from experience, and it's something that arises more than once in you life. Then you ponder it for a while, and you realize that on top of being thankful for your physical healthy "Thank god I can walk and am cancer free," you should also be thankful for mental health.

"Thank god you aren't trapped in a mental hell."

Day 4: Religion

I am not atheist, but am against organization religion. I used to teach Holy Communion classes and have most of my rites in the Roman Catholic faith. Yet one fine day, it hit me that religion does not mean compassion. The other CCD teachers were temperamental, without compassion, rude, and judgmental against the children and their parents. I couldn't take it anymore, any longer and I would have descended into MADNESS! I never looked back, and haven't attended mass in nearly 3 years; I cannot bear it.

Religion is so controversial, yet my reserved personality and Political Science major have influenced my views. I don't believe others moral beliefs should infringe on the rights of other in their free choices. Whether you or I believe in abortion or gay marriage is inconsequential to the happiness of others. Yet in an anthropological view, there has been no society without some kind of faith. Coupled with the human knowledge of mortality there is a need to believe in something.

I fall in the deist category: I believe there is a higher being, but he doesn't concern himself with our day to day wishes for a boy/girl to like us or to get good grades. I feel that all we can do is ask for the inner strength to overcome problems in life. If this inner-comfort is all this higher being serves for so be it; yet, I believe in the existence of it. I call it god, the universe, and fate.

My future children will have their baptism pictures as has become a cultural Hispanic custom as opposed to a sacred religious rite. However, they will be raised secular, to believe in classical moral teachings, the golden rule, and the enrichment of society is the product of science.

A little older, a little wiser

It is as if fate has decided to show me my past writing on the same day that I calculated that I won't graduate until December 2013 (God willing).

I feel happy with the course life has taken and I have renewed faith in myself.

Life should always be this way; no, my attitude should always be this way.

I love life.

Day 3000: Blame it on the Goose

Drugs: Legalize them. I would never use marijuana or anything else, but as a Political Science Major I see that their are more pros than cons for the legalization of marijuana. Not to mention that our society has deemed marijuana as acceptable.

A personal issue though I have with drug use is that I've seen it consume the user, they become obsessed with it, more so than with regular alcohol consumers. However we live in the land of choice, so drug use should be optional. . . . aaaaand a cigarette once and a while is good for the nerves.

On the other hand, Alcoholic consumption, with limitation, is amazing. I love girly drinks like Vodka and Smirnoffs. Also I don't let myself go beyond the buzz, if not things can get ugly, at least from what I've seen from other people. Plus I see Alcohol as something than allows people to bond and let their guard down, it's a social lubricant.

In summery, Alcohol a big emphatic YES. Drugs: Just Say No!

Day 200: 10 Years

It is a fitting that this question should arise as question #2: Where do you want to be in 10 Years?

This year marked the beginning of a new decade and lately, I've been obsessed with taking giant steps into the future. I was devastated when I didn't get a job at the Sheriff's Dept. after months of back and forth. However recently I've gotten the opportunity to be a reading tutor at one of the local middle schools, but I don't know how that'd help me in the future. I know if I were an education major I'd be jumping at this opportunity. My ultimate goal in the foreseeable future is in law enforcement. I know, I know. Political Science = Lawyer, but if I could be a super hero I would, and what is the next best things for us mortals to do? Bring justice to the people!

Currently, I want to fill my resume with work experience and a sprinkle of University organizations. In 10 years from now I want to be doing something fulfilling and challenging and I want to keep pushing myself if not academically then in my profession.

I'll be 29 in 10 years and it's up to God and the Universe who I'll be sharing my life with in terms of a husband or children. I mean who know what the Mayan calendar holds as well?

I'm curious what the future holds, but for now I'll enjoy the ride, even if I'm unaware that I'm barely on the cusp of even starting the ride.

Day 1: Current Relationship

Yesterday was my 8 month anniversary with my boyfriend and like other important developments it's a day to day process. In that time frame, I've built for myself with him security and happiness.

When I say Security, I mean both the emotional and the physical kind. I have always been a emotionally fragile and physically self conscious. As the months have accumulated, he's been the one to pull me from drowning in my emotions, to tell me that I'm beautiful for no other reason than just because he thinks so. I think what I've always wanted in a relationship, I've gotten my first time around. Sometimes it scares me that my first shot at love make me feel complete.

. . . and then comes happiness. The happiness I get from being with my boyfriend could not be replicated from financial success or material gain. I guess being an emotional person and holding everything in my life under a microscope of feeling: I feel complete. I feel invincible. I feel safe. I feel loved. I never expect everyday to be a happy one, but even if I fight with him, I know it's just temporary; and even if it's just missing him, I can chalk up the day as a day fully lived.

No matter if we're just lying down, talking about news, making hilarious inside jokes, taking trips, or just in his car talking about the mundane: the clock of life is ticking, time well spent.

Another Challenge: Winter Break Edition!