"Adam fell that men might be. And men are, that they might have joy." - 2 Nephi 2:25

This scripture will forever remind me that we are responsible for our own actions. We can't blame our problems on the people around us. "Men are, that they might have joy." It is something we have to choose. To be truly happy, we have to realize that every trial, every problem, that comes our way is OURS. It is not to be blamed or put on anyone. It comes, not from any person, but it is to be thought of as a test. And we must pass it as faithfully as possible. Bad things happen to good people, I know. It's hard, it hurts, and I don't like it. But it happens. But the Lord would never give us more than we can handle. Never. Though it may seem like He does. He's already proven to us a million times over just how much He loves us. And when things happen, it's our time to prove that we love Him in return. Love him enough to not forsake Him. Enough to want to return to Him.

Take a look at Job. Yes, from the Bible. That man, suffered SO much pain and sorrow in such a short period of time. Satan hit him with everything, except death itself. If you want to know what sadness is, take a look at him. What is so amazing about Job is that though so many things happened, he not once forsake Heavely Father. NOT ONCE. He knew that things were happening for a reason, though he didn't know what. In the end, God blessed him with more than he had before, for his faithfulness. We can all learn a lesson from that.

We should not victimize ourselves. For though we may always feel like the victim, sometimes (though majority of the time we don't realize it) we are the bad guy. So I'm sorry, for all those times I've been the bad guy, for all the times I've put the blame on another human being. Remember that the blame does not always have to be placed. Think about your actions, and how, as well as whom, they hurt. Then change yourself for the better. Surround yourself with people who constantly uplift you. Don't let anyones negativity, bring you down... no matter how long that relationship has lasted already. Be the best you. And think of others before yourself. Remember that "Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something is more important than fear." - Ambrose Redmoon. Stop thinking of yourself, that's the easy way out. Have the courage to start thinking of others. Think about your family. Think about your friends. And think about the random strangers that you meet from day to day. When you do that, you will begin to learn what true happiness is. We acheive our own happiness, with the help of the Lord. We cannot base it on the people around us, or any one person. Oh sure it may work, but only for a short period of time. No, we make our own happiness. So, good luck! Stay strong, and be safe.

P.S. A helpful hint: It starts in the home ;)