This past week, I found myself overly anxious about everything that came at me. I was up all night thinking about things that I had absolutely no control over. Everyone around me was making changes that I felt were affecting me, even though they had nothing to do with me. And that's okay. Caring about others and the changes they are making is a good and fair thing to do. However, I shouldn't be dwelling on it as much as I do. Staying up all night worrying isn't going to change what they are doing and at the end of the day, it's their decisions to make and your opinion is just a small bug in their ear. So I waited to write my Odyssey article till I was in a much happier and positive state, so I could write a letter to myself, to go back and read when I am staying up all night worrying about what other people do. And I want others to go through and read this article and realize it is okay to be concerned about what the people around you are doing. But as a good friend once told me, "you cant jeopardize your own happiness for someone else." I take those words with me no matter where I am.

Dear Anxious Self,

You are a great and caring person for worrying about what everyone is doing. Just remember, what you say will not change their choices. Remember that you make the correct decisions and always have. Remember how good your life is treating you. You are doing what you need to do to make your life successful. You're going back to school, you're in a happy and healthy relationship, you're busting your butt to have what you want. We are going to help make the ones around us happy by not becoming what those people you're disappointed in are doing. Focus on everyone fairly. Be a great best friend, but never forget to be your own. Stop losing sleep and not eating for people who are going on about their daily life not even thinking about you or how you feel. Their problems are not your problems. You do, what you have to do for you. And remember, when everyone else is gone, you are going to have to rely on yourself, so make sure you are the strong shoulders you need.

With love,

Your Healthy Mind State Self.