To making it count.

I feel like I'm just going to go ahead and give some advice now...

1. Write in a journal. Do it daily, if you can. It's such a valuable thing to have and to look back upon further on down the road of life. If you're sitting there thinking, "But I suck at keeping a journal..."as you're reading this, then this advice is just for you. Start one, right now. And don't try to do any of the "catching up" crap. No. You'll lose all motivation. Start today, go find a journal that tugs upon your heart strings, crack it open, write "April 24, 2013" across the top of the page, and then make today a day worth recording in your journal. Make every day a day worth recording-- it makes keeping a journal a thousand times easier.

2. Don't focus on the negative aspects of your life. At any given moment, you will be struggling with one thing or another. Sometimes your trials may seem overwhelming and sometimes they may just be annoying, but no matter where you are in life, there will always be something that you need to work on. Don't get so caught up in the struggles of your life that you fail to see the blessings. Look for the good things, and fill your life with them. Whether it's going for a run, finding a new book to read, or simply taking a warm shower, discover what makes you happy, and then focus on those things. Make sure to include simple and happy things in your life each and every day. When you do so, your trials, no matter how big or how small they may seem, won't feel as heavy as they once were. Life is good, even in the hardest of times, when you just remember to include the little things that make you smile.