Dear Friends,

It's been awhile since I made an article. I apologize for that, whether you care or don't care at all. For the past month or so I've been taking a mental health break. I wouldn't say that I intended to take this kind of break, but it was definitely needed. After dealing with a long and draining semester at college this past fall, I was in need of some sort of relaxation. That meant that I was going to do what I wanted to do for a little bit.

I wanted to sleep in on some days, and get a daily coffee at Dunkin'. I wanted to lay around all break and chill with my dogs and family. I wanted to do absolutely nothing. I didn't want to worry about typing an article or filming a video for my YouTube channel (I posted a video last Sunday so go check it out). I didn't want to worry about work or preparing for the second semester. You may think that this all sounds lazy, but for a guy that has TWO WHOLE MONTHS for winter break, it was pretty easy to do.

If you ask me what I did over my winter break, the simplest answer I could give you is "Mostly nothing." Sure, I worked two jobs here and there, caught up with some old friends, visited some new friends, and all that jazz, but in the long run I did NOTHING. I'm smiling while I type this because that's pretty much what I needed to do this break: nothing.

Life is too short to be worrying about everything. I mean, I would like to live a long and healthy life, but I don't really get to decide that (for the most part). I don't mean to sound morbid, but I don't know when my last day on Earth will be. It could be in 70 years or 70 days. Now, I don't wake up everyday saying, "Today could be my last day, so let's make it count." That's just screwed up. I don't worry about my "last day" either, though. I wake up each day like it's any other normal day and go with the flow. That's how I like to live. It's easier said than done, but that's what keeps me going.

With all the negativity and violence in the world, I like to live the best life that I can right now. I'm not getting any younger, that's for sure. I'm sure a lot of you agree with that (@ all the adults who have explained that to me). So live your best life fam! Go do what you want to do. Wear what you want to wear. Be who you want to be!

I was driving to work this morning and I thought to myself, "Wow, I've been pretty happy lately." It's true. I've just been cruising through the past few weeks. Sure not every day is easy, but I've been doing pretty well for a 20 year-old in college dealing with major anxiety. Cheers to that my friends.

It's just important to enjoy yourself and do what makes you happy. I'm not saying you should drop all of your responsibilities and run naked through the streets. This is life, not some summer camp you go to (you know who you are). Seriously though, live your damn life. Stop holding grudges, talk to new people, reach out to old friends, eat new foods, sleep in, have some wine, just do what you gotta do to make yourself happy! Unless it's crack because I don't support that.

There is always time during the day to do something you want to do. ALWAYS. Don't be that person that says, "Oh, I don't have the time to take a nap." YES YOU DO. Go to your couch and sleep. It is not that difficult. I don't care how much work you have to do, just take that 30 minute break. People in college are always saying how they have all this work to do and no time to do all of it and relax. YES YOU DO. Screw your stupid chemistry class and go out for a walk and get a coffee or something. College can wait for you to do the work it gives you, since you are paying it $50,000 a year and all it wants is more money.

I got off track there, I apologize (college can be a scam though sorry, not sorry). Please just do what you got to do to relax and feel genuinely happy. Again, life is too short to worry about everything. Take it one day at a time and go with the flow. I hope you all enjoyed this article. Always here if anyone needs anything. I'll see you guys next time with a new article. Peace!

Your Friend,

Al