Taking Life for Granted Tuesday, April 27, 2010 By Zalak Patel - Advertising How many times do you think about how you hate your life and wish you had a better one? Unless you are Bill Gates, probably at least a few times. I know I've had these thoughts, especially in the past couple weeks.   My last editorial was about how the first week of April was one of the best weeks, but mid-April was the complete opposite. Like I said, the past couple weeks haven't exactly been the best of my life. There has been drama with my friends/family and this time of year is so busy there is barely any time to breathe. There's so much to do, so many different dates and deadlines to memorize, along with campaigning for club offices. It's overwhelming.  I keep thinking, "If you're so overwhelmed right now as a junior, what's going to happen next year when you're a senior?" With summer vacation being so close I can barely concentrate on anything anymore, which isn't a good thing considering I have to study for 6 college class finals in a matter of time.   I know now these are minor complaints and I should just learn to suck it up, but at the time I didn't think about that. At the time all I thought about was how everyone around me looked bubbly and happy. However, the last 48 hours have really changed my perspective on my life.   I was hanging out with some of my friends and we were driving back into Cameron. We started talking about people in our school. I was shocked to find out the people who I thought were bubbly and happy earlier were going through problems in their life. I found out about people who recently had a parent die. I found out about people whose parents were never in their lives because they worked all the time, or are drug addicts who don't notice their kids anymore. Even one of my friends I was with, who I thought I knew, talked about how she felt like her mom was never in her life anymore. Throughout our conversation, I realized how lucky I was to have my life. After I got home that night I couldn't sleep because I couldn't stop thinking about my life compared to others. I thought about how I was lucky to even have a home and a bed to sleep in, unlike a lot of residents of the poorer countries. Then I thought about how lucky I was to have people I can talk to, like my family and friends. Unlike a lot of other siblings, my younger sister and I are super close. I can tell her anything without having to worry about being judged. We like and dislike all of the same things; we're practically twins. I'm fortunate to have both of my parents in my life too. I see my parents every day and they are a huge part of my life. I know if I'm ever if any kind of trouble I can always go to them.   Looking at what other people have to go through in their lives opened up my eyes about my own. Before I complain, now I try to think twice about what I'm complaining about and stop myself. If people whose lives are far worse than mine can go without complaining, than surely I can too.

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