Learning to count blessings through the stressing
I wake up to my blaring alarm and race to school. I carry my jam-packed, 34.2 lb backpack from class to class where I sit for hours and aggressively take notes and stress about whatever test, quiz or assignment I have due. I finish my school day with a few hours of dance team practice and then head home to do hours of homework until I realize it’s getting late and I still need to shower and go to sleep. The next morning, the same annoying alarm wakes me up to do it all over again. Welcome to the utterly fabulous life of Bella Robakowski.
The repetition and constant stress of daily life leaves my brain fried, my back sore, and my stomach empty, because I frequently forget to eat while caught up in my seemingly never ending to-do list.
My problems are difficult classes, heavy backpacks, and not having enough hours in the day. Sure, they’re first-world problems, but what can I say? This is what I struggle with everyday.
The world can be a dark place. People face trials and tribulations that I can’t fathom. I’m thankful for the life I live, however I’ve learned it’s okay to throw a pity party for yourself every so often.
Everyone has a little cloud over their head filled with problems, petty or not, that they need to vent. Sometimes, my friends share their problems with me, and it takes all I have to not roll my eyes and tell them how ridiculous they are. But their struggles are theirs. It’s my job to support them no matter what: dealing with a bad breakup or searching for the perfect homecoming dress doesn’t matter to me.
Many of my friends don’t understand why I study so much for every test, but I have a different view on the situation. My test scores affect my grade, my GPA, the university which accepts me, and even my career — these tests represents more than a grade. For others it’s insignificant, but for me it leads to stress. My first world problems are a reality, and my struggle isn’t a myth.
However, you shouldn’t tweet all of your problems or drown in self pity- that’s no way to live. Instead, let all the blessings we have be the sunshine that chases that little cloud of problems away. Count each and every good thing, even the little ones, as a reminder of how good life is. But recognize problems and find ways to garner support to get through them.
I know there are kids out there who have empty stomachs or much worse reasons than a “never ending to-do list,” and I know that I’m truly #blessed, but I still have my own unique struggles that sometimes make me want to crawl in my bed, pull the covers over my head, and sob.
So get out the streamers, party hats, and don’t forget the cake, because it’s okay to throw a huge pity party all for you from time to time, as long as you remember to count your blessings at the end of the day.
