I'm Ms. Brightside.

Call me crazy, but life is full of ups and downs, and "success" is getting to a conclusion with some feeling of satisfaction about the life you lived.

So why do people indulge in laziness and unremarkable activities and then brag about them? Why do Americans in particular constantly stomp all over their own lives, whining about their situations, when there are people so much worse off than them? Why can't we all enjoy the silver lining? Why do we worry and stress about things that have already transpired and are closed matters?

What happens, happens. Some say it's the hand of God, some say it's fate, others say it's a completely random process. I say it doesn't really matter how it happens, as long as you've taken responsibility for who you are, what you do, and where you are. You should approach each obstacle intent on scaling it and coming up with solutions, not standing at the base of the mountain commiserating with the other roughly-average people about how hard it's going to be.

Go on, chill at base camp... but the harder you push yourself, the harder you learn to work, the more you benefit, the more you experience... the more you taste life. What's the worst that could happen? How would you deal with that? In the words of Reel Big Fish musician Aaron, "You know, kids, things can only get so bad before you fucking die, and then it's over."

...In other, less vulgar words: Yes, it's bad, but if you waste all your time focused on the severity of the situation, and not seeing the bright side of it or designing possible routes in your mind, you will have missed the point. You will have forgotten that it's not nearly as bad as it could be (if you're thinking, you've got a beating heart and a breath in your lungs), and if you waste enough time, you'll have lost your chance completely.

Life is what you make it. I personally try to see the positive side of things. If you've got nothing, you've got nothing to lose. Nowhere to go but up. Homo sapiens is a species remarkably resilient in both brain and body. But don't believe me when I say that... go out and prove it to yourself.