What the Luck

I wrote in my little journal dealio tonight predicting the playoff results, and who would rise to face each other in the Superbowl.  Already I was wrong.  Let's cross our fingers, and hope that I wasn't completely off.  Tomorrow, I'm predicting the Panthers will beat the 49ers, and, of course, Denver over San Diego.  Next week, then, if things go as I predict, Denver will face New England, while the Seahawks will face the Panthers.  The Seahawks will win, and I think Denver will finally beat the Patriots.  Seattle-Denver Superbowl.  Unless our defense gets their act together, I have a feeling Denver will be the underdog of that game.

On that note, Denver and the Seahawks played in the preseason, and we got destroyed 40-10.  But that's preseason.  Anyway, let's just hope that if the Superbowl ends up that way, that we won't get beaten that badly.

But man, tonight... the Colts?  What the luck <--- see what I've been doing there?  Okay, maybe you don't get it.  Whatever.  I seriously thought that Luck could beat those Pats.  I was dead wrong.  On that same token, that isn't the first time I've been wrong about something/someone in the past month...

Enough with football, because if you wanted information on predictions, stats, and commentaries on games, you'd be tuning into ESPN Monday morning to hear everyone's professional and high-dollar opinions.

On that same token, those guys at ESPN are just as accurate as your local news stations' weather men.  Or women.  Anything's possible.  That's why football is awesome.  And that is also why I almost watched that game till the final second, even though once Luck threw his 3rd interception I had a feeling it was over from there.

So, let me indulge you with my second piece of advice on how to attain happiness.  Last post, I talked about expectations.  You probably read that one expecting something about the movie, The Notebook.  I'm sure a number of you were disappointed.

Derp.

Here's my next piece of life-changing tips: don't fall into the trap of social comparisons.  What do I mean? you ask.  Well, a lot of people compare clothes, cars, how many retweets someone gets, or how many likes they have on their picture they posted 5 minutes ago.  This can lead to jealousy, which by the way is one of the most ugliest emotions, in my opinion, or frustration with one's self.  Oneself?  I believe it's oneself.  Whatever.

Ultimately, you will never be happy if you compare what you have or are to others.  I promise you.  Because someone's always going to have something better, or they're going to beat you in at least one other category.  Then you'll focus on being better than them, if you're a fighter.  You might just focus on how much you suck, or how crappy your computer is compared to their godly $2000 rig, and you'll drown in a pool of depression, misery, and jealousy.  Don't go out that way, bro.

Really, though, worrying about what others have or are, or comparing yourself or what you have to that will only give you a lifetime of unhappiness.  Social comparisons will rob you of joy.

RANT TIME.  If you haven't read a lot my my garbage I wrote in high school, you'll learn of a group called the Rantiers, where we all wrote posts just ranting about something that got us stirred up, or was just on our minds.  We just ranted.  You can stop here, if you don't want to put up with my thinking "out loud," kind of.  Anyway.  Leh go.

An individual who I barely know told me two things that made me really rethink relationships: 1.) She was too afraid to hurt other people by getting in a relationship with them and 2.) she was unlovable, and incapable of loving.

So, I focused a lot on the first part.  I've heard that a lot lately.  It's this selfless argument that maybe you think you're too needy, or you won't give enough, or maybe you don't think you're good enough, so you think you'll either drain the person emotionally, or just have overall negative effects on the person, so you avoid getting close.  You avoid developing a tight-knit relationship with that person because you're concerned about the fallout, the end... and not for you, but for them.

I call bull.  I mean, I personally think that you're hurting people more by saying, "I'm too dangerous, you best stay away from me and out of my life because I'll burn you."  Why rob them of an experience because you're worried about what may or may not happen?  Why rob yourself of that?  Secondly, I think ya'll might be just as afraid of being hurt, as you are of hurting others.

I also think you're being awfully pessimistic because you're assuming it's going to end badly.

(After writing this all, I realized another reason behind this thinking was that sometimes you're just not ready to start a relationship.  I definitely believe in the thinking behind: if you can't make yourself happy alone, you can't make another person happy.)

The second statement was even more upsetting, I think.  No one is incapable of loving.  Seriously.  Like, we were all designed and built to do that.  It's in your blood.  It's in our nature to be compassionate and to feel for others.  Friends, family, or beyond that... we crave it.  To say you're incapable of that is the same as saying you're incapable of breathing.  And to force yourself to avoid relationships--of any kind--is suppressing something that will eventually burst, and then it'll be awfully devastating.  Don't hold back, don't relent... just lucking live.  (I did it again. LOL.)

Someone described me as someone who sees beauty in everything, and who marvels at the world.  I thought about that for a bit.  Maybe she's right.

I guess that's also why I'll say that no one is unlovable, either.  I've failed in the past week at spelling -able words.  I forgot that the e gets dropped if the root word ends in one.  Derp.

So, yes... I do marvel at the world.  It's an incredible thing.

So, the first half of this post focused on playoff predictions.  The second half of this post actually was something you could take away from this, and that a second tip on how to maybe make yourself happier.  The third half was just a rant of what exactly is on my mind because I left my journal in my car, and I figured I'd just let it out on here.

It might mean nothing to you.  Or it might get you thinking... hmmm.

All in all, guys, do your best to not let social comparisons steal happiness from you, because you'll end up drowning, again, in a pool of depression, misery, and jealousy.  Secondly, don't suppress your emotions.  Control them, monitor them, and keep yourself in check... use your head, but don't suppress.  I guess the difference would be like using a silencer on a gun, or not.  Let that gunshot ring loud and obnoxious-like.  But aim.  Metaphors are fun.  I hope that one makes sense.

I always say this, but you're wasting away our life if you sit there and cower because you're afraid of what might happen.  And sometimes, yes, the risk isn't worth taking.  I like to think that if you could have a great friendship, maybe fall in love, or become a millionaire with a huge house on a lake and like seven or eight cars, then... the risk is totally worth it.

So, a whole ton of food for thought.  Be happy, ya'll.  :D

Quick joke: Why was 6 afraid of 7?  Because 7 is a registered six-offender.

MUAHAHAHA.

And the ultimate question of this post: who do you think will end up in the Superbowl?  Furthermore, who will win?  YOU BETTER SAY DENVER!   For the record, this was published before the game on tomorrow.  So, pardon me if I'm dead wrong.