when life gets hard, you have to change

I've been utterly frustrated with myself and every single aspect of my life lately. I don't think that's a secret. This morning, I've been listening to this song and thinking there's a good point: when life gets hard, you have to change. So, maybe I need to work on changing. Maybe if I change my idea of success, I won't be so beat down by the job market outlook and economy. Maybe if I change my eating and exercise habits, I can lose weight and be happier about how I look. Maybe if I change my selfish streak and proverbial foolish pride, I can have better relationships with people, even dudes. That's what the song gave me: a sense of how to rid these feelings of defeat and near-hopelessness.

But, wait: am I taking my life lessons from a song written by Shannon Hoon? Shannon Hoon the drug addict who died of an overdose in his late 20s?

And that, my friends, is the real kick in the ass. There's no one to take any comfort or advice from, because everyone is knee-deep in their own shit. We, especially those of us in our 20s, are in a horrible position. We've come of age in a pretty chaotic world and everything we thought was coming to us just isn't. Maybe you can rely on your parents, unless they're losing their jobs or being foreclosed. Maybe you can go to school, but good luck getting a job when you're done. And good luck paying back student loans on minimum wage.

Every blog, website, magazine, etc. has their list of pointers and advice to the young person trying to make it. Just like every women's publication has it's bible for finding and keeping a man, every lifestyle outlet has the most effective diet and exercise program. I'd wager it's almost all B.S. Most of those people are probably broke free-lance writers who are single and fat.

Since I'm just as unqualified as anyone else to give advice, I'll say this: get out of bed in the morning, get through the day, get to be safely at night. If you can do that, you're on the right track.

If all else fails, listen to some Blind Melon.