When all seems lost

During this time of year, between all of the final exams, long papers and class presentations, we often find ourselves at the end of a rope. We can easily despair at the prospect of a bad grade, a breakup, or any other unfortunate event we may encounter during our already stressful academic regimens. The combination of too much happening too soon can bring a person to his knees, and such collapses spill over into all aspects of our lives. We must be wary of the ramifications of such calamity and how we are the ones who control how those events affect us.

“So long as your heart beats, and your mind thinks, you always have the next moment to act.”

Very often, we find ourselves being worn down over time through repeated mishaps and mistakes. Our confidence is shaken, our wills become fatigued, and our bodies grow tired from lack of sleep or illness. We find ourselves lashing out at friends and family over minute incidences, though we don’t mean it. Forgetful or perhaps ashamed by the need of support from people around us, we take on too many burdens, and pull away from those close to us thinking that we can handle it on our own. That in and of itself leads to worse situations: We are not meant to carry all of the weight of world upon us as individuals. By not acknowledging our needs of support and help from those closest to us, we set ourselves up for failure. Strength is exponential: The more people we surround ourselves with, the more easily we can confront the issues and baggage that accumulate in our lives. Forgetting that truth is what often contributes to a feeling of defeat, of loss, and a lack of control over our future.

Folks, it is when you allow yourself to feel defeated that you become so. So long as your heart beats, and your mind thinks, you always have the next moment to act. Life is not a single path from one point to another, but an open world where we have the choice to follow a path, and failing that, to beat one through the wild and the unknown with at least a shot at reaching our desired destinations.

For everyone who is staying up all night wondering about their future during finals, and for those who had a bad week, for those who have lost something dear, and those who have recently made a mistake: All is not lost. It never, ever is. Without hope, we are empty shells drifting day to day merely accepting what fate grants us. No one overcomes obstacles without the belief that something better lies ahead, that trying is better than not trying, and that there is an inherent worth within all good people that makes our efforts in life meaningful. So don’t give up.