Thankful for my brother

I'm very thankful for my little brother. He's so cool, though he's a bit derpy sometimes. Well, same goes for me, but in much different manners. He's much more subdued and shy than I am, and that makes all the difference.

There are many things I could praise about him, but there is one thing in particular that I am so grateful for. Before recently, the only times I would take him places, you would always come with us. It's already so likely that you're in my thoughts, but it's simply inevitable when I'm out and about with him. "She would really like this shirt." "What kind of food do you think she would have wanted?" "This is why I don't get lost like you and her in Minecraft." I always bring you up when we're out. He never points it out or even seems to mind. He goes along with the questions and comments as if there wasn't anything to it, just a regular conversation. That's so much more than anyone else can do. Feeling guilty that I was talking so much about you, I apologized to him. He said it was fine.

He's 13, but I believe that, despite his lingering naivety, he knows and can understand what I'm going through. I don't have to hold back any more for him than for anyone else. I don't depend on him, but I feel like I could if I needed to. I guess that's what having a loving sibling is.

Bring it back

Yesterday, I told you about my friend. I turned my back on my friend who wouldn't seek help. But by midnight I'd turned back around, because my friend called an ambulance after suffering the repercussions of a failed suicide attempt by overdose. I was honestly surprised. I thought that it would take hours, even days. I was pleasantly surprised, and so relieved.

I also mentioned my grandpa. After my little brother and I went clothes shopping today, we stopped by my grandpa's house to visit. I knew he'd be happy to see us. I didn't realize that my uncle is staying with him, so I saw him for the first time in a very long while and introduced him to my little brother. If I'd held some sort of grudge against my grandpa, I would've passed on this opportunity.

I'm glad that I haven't left anyone behind. I remember that, when I broke up with you, we stayed very close friends, and that worked well for us. Yes, I kept lying to myself, but maybe I could have done that longer if I hadn't tried to move on from you. If I hadn't stopped trying to see you, hadn't tried to leave you behind, maybe we could have made it more comfortably. Instead, all this happened, and you're further from me than ever.

Maybe people need boundaries, but trying to leave behind love can make it twist and morph into something horrifying and painful. Don't leave love behind. Keep going for love.

I hugged my grandpa

The other day my grandpa was at my house when I drove home with my little brother. I knew he'd be there; my grandma gave me a heads-up before I left. I've already told you that I stopped working with him and why. I'm not ready to work with him again. He's not able to help me with my depression.

But I walked into my bag yard, greeted him, and hugged him. He may not have the empathy that I need, but I still love my grandpa. He isn't constantly trying to hurt me. He wants me to be better, but his way of trying to help is ineffective. I don't think that I should stop caring for him completely because of those things. After all, it doesn't hurt me to give him a hug. It helps him when I do.

I'm not talking with him. I know that I'll inevitably be hurt. But I think that what I did is enough. He can dismiss the idea that I'm angry at him. He doesn't have to worry that I don't want to ever see him. That's all I can do, and that's what I will do. When I see him, I'll greet him, and I'll embrace him.

I wish that you could give me at least that much.

I just did it too

I had a friend for the past few months. I've been trying to help my friend. Self-harms, lashes out at the people around her, is suicidal, self-neglecting, self-loathing. That's okay with me. What isn't okay is that my friend would not get help. My friend just can't see a psychologist. My friend just can't go to the hospital. Of course my friend could, but can't... I'm across the world from my friend, so I can't do a thing either.

Look. I've made a decision. I've been trying to help you for months, but there's nothing I can even do. The only thing that I've changed is that I've built up frustration and despair in myself by being involved in you.
"I'm not going to talk to you until you seek help. I don't care what you seek help for, whether it's your physical problems or your mental problems, I just need you to take a step forward. Feel free to keep messaging me, but I won't message back until you tell me what it was like to finally get help.
"I love you. But I can't carry your burden if you'll never try to make it lighter. So, goodbye for now.

Tonight, I left my friend. That is what I said. After weeks of feeling helpless and slowly having my hope trampled, I realized it. I said that I don't leave a person unless they've hurt me. I'm hurt. My worry and helplessness has been growing and it's been digging into me. It hurts. My friend just recently tried to commit suicide, even though I pleaded not to be abandoned again. My friend has been paining me so badly, and can't do anything to help. I didn't want to leave my friend all alone, after so many people had done so. I didn't want to be a hypocrite for leaving like you left me. I've left.

I think I can say that I'm not a hypocrite, though. I'm not leaving like you did. You left after 3 days, after I had gone to a psychologist like you asked me to. I left after several weeks, after my friend refused to seek help over and over again. I've given a condition for me to speak again and said I'd still listen, while you simply left me scared and directionless and aren't even listening anymore. I don't want my friend to let me go, I just want to see my friend start fighting to improve. Would you truly even care anymore if death dragged me away from my goal?

No, I will never put my friends through what you've put me through. Maybe I can't take feeling responsible, but I'll never my friends away when they need me. Perhaps this can't be counted as leaving; I've only turned my back, standing in place. You're gone, except that I grip you tightly in my heart in order to stay alive, despite the fact that you refuse me all hope. My hope is the only thing I actually have left that means anything to me.

My mother's worry

I leave my university at 11PM at the latest to get home home in around 15 minutes. The first few times I stayed so late, my mom was concerned. After a while, she understood that it was okay. Now she's concerned again, for some reason. I feel like the concern is different this time, though. It's a little more frantic, maybe?

She's also become concerned about me walking about at night. Honestly, I'm doing something good for myself and there she is worrying about... what, exactly? It's clear that I'm nowhere near hurting myself. It's clear that I've been obeying the law. Returning home at 9:30 isn't late, and it never has been until now. Where is this sudden fear of the dark coming from?

I've lied to her before. The last time that I tried to visit you, I lied to her and said I was just getting gas. There used to be days that I told her I was going to school when I was actually going for a walk. During the short time that I stopped eating, I told her that I'd had my meals and nobody had noticed. But now I don't keep those sorts of things from her. Anything that I've planned or that's made me feel better or worse, I tell her. She is my complete confidant.

Well, it's a mother's job to worry about her children. Maybe there are so few things to worry about with me now that she's finding new things to fret over. That's a good thing, I guess. I'm just glad that she isn't very forceful or upset when she complains about me being out so "late". I love my mom. She's so caring.

Too good

I've been told that I'm too much of many good things. Too sweet, too kind, too funny. I remember when I told her that your love for her had rubbed off on me, and explained what I would be okay with you two indulging in, she said I was too good for her. Do you remember that? You were sitting right beside her. I'm always flattered when I'm told these things, and at the same time I find the people who say them to be cute. I'm wondering if it's me seeing cuteness in response to being flattered, or if only cute people happen to say those things.

I also remember that I told her soon afterward that I'm not as good as she thought. "I'm not afraid to take advantage of you," I said. If I'm too much of any good thing on its own, then I feel my negative traits bring those things down at least enough that I'm not so amazing anymore. I don't like being amazing. I don't like thinking that I'm better than everyone. I'm uncomfortable with being looked up to; I'd prefer others to see me eye-to-eye. So every time I take these compliments a quiet voice in my head is reciting what's wrong with me. This isn't a bad thing; it keeps me humble, and it makes me comfortable.

I'm sure that she doesn't see me as too good anymore. Being the self-protecting, reclusive, sensitive person she is, I've surely torn apart any hopes of being her friend through my actions with you. I'm not sure whether you see me as too good, either. I try not to think about that. I just keep going for love, and keep going with the love of the people who support me.

Not in the best state

Today I didn't have lecture in my class, so I drove to the bay and walked. It's been a while since I did that. You know how I stayed up all Monday morning but it wasn't the same because of my depression? Well, ever since I started walking the bay I've never felt burdened by traversing 6 miles over the course of a few hours, but today I did. On the way back, I started to regret walking so far. I wanted to stop somewhere, take another break. I wanted to go home. I blame the fact that my depression has been more mild.

When I first started walking, I was suicidal. I was so close to the edge. Walking that distance gave me something. It held my attention. I can't say that I'm unhappy with not being suicidal anymore. Trust me, I'm glad that I feel safe from myself. But I'm disappointed that I couldn't have the same dedication today as I did then. Where did that dedication go? Towards watching TV shows?

I hate being in this limbo. I'm not enough of myself to be as I was before we became friends. I'm not empty enough to easily disregard my desires. I'm even questioning whether I'll now pull up and out of this depression or, like I thought before, I'll dive back down until I catch the next extraordinary mood. In the meanwhile, I'm parts useless, pained, and self-loathing. I'd rather be closer to nothing again. But I think being like this is better than my depression is for the people around me.

Dull beauty

In a photo, a recreation, or the place before me, I see beauty and think, "That's beautiful." But depression saps the feeling of it. I recognize that it's gorgeous, but it doesn't touch me as it should. I keep some images and take some photographs. I show other people and I feel satisfied that they enjoy it. I keep these pictures for that, but also for myself in the future. One day, I'll be able to look at them and have them caress my heart.

There are three exceptions. I always find beauty in these three things. When I have a look, I feel well, even smile. I can sigh in awe, I can be glad that it's been with me. I try to adjust, try to appreciate everything else the world has to offer. I can't just bury myself in these three things. But, once in a while, it's good to indulge myself with memories and photographs.

The night, the rain, and you. Perhaps those are the three most important loves of my life. That must be why they are always so precious to me.

What to watch

I was talking to one of my instructors today about what kinds of shows I like to watch. Well, I was making vague hand gestures and slowly finding words to put together. 4 hours of sleep, night classes, midterms, yeah. I did find words, but I've been thinking about how exactly to explain what I wanted to. Somehow it's always easier to type down.

What I ended up saying to my instructor was something along the lines of, "I like to watch things that give me concepts and characters that I can put together in ways not necessarily explored canonically." My instructor had a different choice of words that I think better describes my taste. Something that keeps you thinking afterward. When it's finished, you don't just think, "Oh, that was a nice story." You start imagining all the what-ifs and filling in the blanks. Yes, not only more eloquently said than I could do, put together with seemingly no hesitation, but much wordier than I could manage. And here I thought I was doing well on 4 hours.

Marvel's put out a series on Netflix for their Daredevil character. My instructor recommended it to me, and I indulged as soon as I got home and reheated some pizza powdered with cayenne and dotted with jalapeño. Actually, I paused the first episode with a bit under 20 minutes left. It has certainly got a great first episode, and I'm excited to watch more. Well, to finish watching this episode, let's begin there. Of course, something like this suits my tastes just fine.

You've probably been gaming, not watching shows. Either way, I hope you've been engaged with your choice of fiction. I'll continue doing likewise, whenever I can spare some time.

I stayed up as planned

Like I said I would, I stayed awake all night. A good handful of code was written, and some of it was rewritten. My computer logic doesn't particularly suffer when I'm tired, but I made mistakes that I normally would, you see. Many hours of music were listened to between that mix I showed you and the Minecraft OST. That OST disappeared from my computer somehow, so I bothered to get it back. Since I was awake during the night, I was also able to talk to an internet friend of mine throughout her day. Oh Internet, how peculiar you make life on this round Earth.

Unfortunately, around 2AM that good mood that had got me pumped for an all-nighter had faded. Coding became tedious, decent posture became a chore, the music became uninteresting, and staying open wasn't something my eyelids wanted to do. I was starting to not want to talk to my friend, too. I know that wasn't just an effect of tiredness because that's never happened to me before on an all-nighter. My friend was being pleasant and offering interesting chit chat, too, so it's not like I got bored or irritated with her. Despite consideration of rest, I decided to continue push through the morning. I did recover my enjoyment, though not fully. All in all, it was a productive and nice night.

I went to bed as planned at 7:30. My alarm was set for 2:00, but I didn't nearly get that much sleep. I found myself awake at 11:30 instead, after only 4 hours of rest. I haven't been able to sleep since. Depression does that, but I also don't feel tired on limited sleep either, and I think that's also the apathy. Yes, I did my midterm today on only 4 hours of sleep. I believe that I did well though! Got the next half in two days, and I have much more work to complete in the meanwhile.

So even though all the signs say my good mood is over- maybe I should call it a extraordinary mood instead? Because, though I'm pained right now, I think I'm still doing pretty good. I'll attribute that to you, of course. When my mood ran out, it was my desire to be good enough for you that made me keep trying. That effort worked without hurting me. Thank you. That's something that I feel I can only do with you in mind.

Maybe an all-nighter

I've been doing a lot of studying and programming today. I've actually been enjoying it. I'm enjoying it so much that I'm still up when I had planned to be going to bed about an hour ago. You know I have a passion for programming like people have passion for playing videogames, watching show marathons, or reading books. Actually, I have those passions as well, but right now it's the programming that's got me up!

Now, since I've already passed my bedtime, maybe I should pull an all-nighter. I like coding into the sunrise with some electronic music in my ears. I don't have any responsibilities until 2:30 tomorrow, so I'm cleared to sleep in the day. I do need to sleep for my midterm tomorrow evening. Though I could also pump up on Coke; Coca-Cola, that is, haha. If I do stay up then I should put myself in bed around 7:30 tomorrow to get a bit less than 7 hours of sleep.

It's settled, then. With this respite from depression, I'd love to pull an all-nighter, and there's no reason not to. I don't feel tired and I'm having fun! Right now I'm listening to a SheepyMix called Forgotten Dreams, which I came upon recently and am absolutely loving. Maybe I'll put on the Minecraft soundtrack later, for old times' sake. You, however, need to get up at 5 tomorrow for school, so I hope you're fast asleep! Sweet dreams to you.

So today hasn't been any more productive

It's past noon and so far the only things I've done are explore G+ and listened to music. I guess I could give myself credit for not playing videogames or watching shows. Still, I haven't done the studying I said that I would. Hell, I haven't even eaten. At the very least I'm writing this message much earlier than usual, like I should be.

This is seriously who I am? Waking up late to neglect myself and my future in favor of making myself feel good? Selfish, lazy, hedonistic... I almost hate myself. Who even wants to be associated with a person like that? From the perspective of a person who wants to become nothing, being this instead is disgusting. At least when I want nothing at all I can get something done.

I could change it. Being able to see what's wrong now, if I can just keep looking that way, I can change this. What I never had was a sense of urgency. What I need to embrace now is the need to be good enough for you. I've changed myself before, and I'll do it again. No more empty promises; this is an absolute.

And let's start with right now. There's still plenty of time left in the day. It's time to be more than nothing and more than myself.

When do you think of me

I've wondered in what ways you think of me. Worried, more like it. I've found that isn't a good thing to give much consideration to. A better question to ask is when I'm in your thoughts. The results aren't as potentially devastating to me.

If you don't think about me at all, then that can be a good thing. That means I'm not even indirectly screwing with your life. I'm not to blame for anything stress you have because I'm not even at the back of your mind. It would make me happy to know that you're doing well, even if it's because I'm not there.

If you think about me all the time, that can be good too. I'll pull out a Fall Out Boy lyric for this: I don't care what you think, as long as it's about me! It means you still care about me. I still mean something to you. Perhaps I would mean something terrible, but then I can't quite be replaced in your life. You'd have to confront that eventually; you'd have to talk.

Ideally, you think about me just some of the time. I'd be out of your head long enough for you to go about your life. I'd be on your mind enough to make you think. You could keep your life stable, and you could come to really consider where you've left me. There's surely a balance that would help you to progress. That's all out of my hands, though. Hope and prayers are all I can turn to.

Slept out the contest

It seems that I'm having good days. I went to sleep before midnight and woke up around 9:30AM. It's during these times that I'm most myself. I can very genuinely be who I know I really am, though there's still a bit of acting or apathy. But I'm not really that great even when I'm myself.

I'm too prone to indulging myself. It's hard to find motivation when I'm suffering from the depression, but in this mood I'm just motivated to goof off. Today I've been watching lots of anime instead of studying. Normally I don't even need to study but I should be playing it safe anyway. I've also been motivated to get back into gaming, but luckily I haven't been sucked into that again. I've been swiping sweets, too; not just one today like I'd normally allow, but three sweets! I'll never reach my weight goal like this...

Even though I feel well, I'm just not performing as well like this. I wonder if I need to think a bit negatively to get myself into a more neutral mood and concentrate on my goals. That's kind of dangerous though, isn't it? If I take it too far, I'll just feel terrible and I still won't get anything done. No, thinking negatively probably isn't the solution. Instead, since I can take it, I should think about the future! I may have to live day-to-day when I'm suffering, but I can look forward when I'm well.

By the way, I didn't end up entering my lyrics in that contest. I didn't even finish them. I was too tired last night, and I felt I was too pressed for time in the morning. To be honest, I probably could have written meaningful lyrics in half an hour, just like I write meaningful messages in that time span. However, lyrics aren't much if they're written without a tune in mind. It was too early to sing to myself, should I wake people up, and there wouldn't have been enough time to find just the right rhythms and tunes. That's my excuse, at least.

Eh. I will finish that song, just probably not soon. Tomorrow I've got to work toward our future!

Songwriter's contest

Earlier this week I was invited to a Songwriter's Contest. I said that maybe I'd submit an entry. In the shower, I did come up with a main verse, though the contest wasn't on my mind at the time. The song, which is tentatively titled Perfectly Yours, is about the promise of a pure devotion despite the fact that such a devotion cannot be requited. Based on a real story, and I think you can guess whose.

It appears that there will be anywhere from 12 to 22 contestants. I'm not really going for the win, but while I'm forcing myself to do things I might as well participate. I'll finish the song tomorrow morning. It's late and, as I mentioned, I'm quite tired right now. I think the deadline is 10AM, but that isn't particularly clear.

When I've written up the lyrics, I'll make sure to show them to you here. Someday I'll record a vocal performance of it, too. I did record that main verse, to note. I wonder if you'll like the song?

Woah tired

This evening I'm very tired much earlier than usual. Usually I'm hardly wanting to retire at midnight. But tonight it's only 10 and I'm nodding off. I'm hardly coherent enough to put words together right now, honestly.

I didn't just eat. I didn't physically work hard today. One possibility is that I'm having a good day, and my lack of apathy is causing me to feel the weariness of waking up too early. Another possibility is that watching shows is starting to put me to sleep, having given me enough distraction from my own thoughts. Finally, for dinner I ate much more than usual, so maybe the increase in food intake is doing this? That was hours ago, though, so I have my doubts.

I'm going to go with good day. I may have awoken early today, but it has been a pleasant day. Nobody said a mood can't start in the middle of the day, right? I hope I get a lot of sleep tonight and have another good day tomorrow! After I write my second message, that is. And, of course, I hope you sleep as much as you can.

Their smiles

To be honest, it's hard to see others' feelings as important when you're depressed. Apathy is not pleasant. But I do feel disappointed when I'm not acting like myself - the me that wasn't depressed, that is. That's because being myself is part of being successful, and that's what I'm trying to do to be able to talk to you again, remember?

One of the things I liked seeing was other people being happy. I've found myself making a lot of jokes and goofing off lately. I feel great when someone appreciates my lightness. The best part, though, is that I'm largely unaffected when someone just isn't taking it. In the end, it doesn't hurt me at all to act witty nor to act stupid. That's one upside I didn't expect from depression. Well, it's more directly from apathy.

I'm not too concerned about you smiling. There are people in your life that I'm sure make you smile every day. What I pray for is that you don't frown. The times when you got upset with me are gone, after all; I'm one less reason now for you to be angry. So I want to claim sole responsibility for inciting your wrath or your tears. If I had it my way, nobody else would be allowed to, ever.

Please keep smiling, love.

What is darkness

What is darkness? Is it really so bad? It keeps things unknown, concealed, mysterious. People don't need to know everything; they can't. Sometimes keeping things in the dark helps to make life smoother. And why are some matters inherently dark? Why are death, abuse, and violence dark? Dark things are so common, even plain to see. Even when brought to light, how are they still dark?

So what is light? How is it so good? Being able to perceive how things seem to be, is it always better than never having known? A corpse decomposes in the ground while another rots surrounded by blades of grass. Should the corpse in the grass be respected more than the one in the ground, given the sunlight shining brightly on it? Scars that can't be felt would be seen in the light, but under a blanket of darkness they disappear. Memories of joy and beauty can be forgotten; are they still light matters when they've faded into the darkness of oblivion?

I think light is okay. It's easier to live when the world is lit. But I think that darkness augments the beauty of light. When the full moon shines on a starry night, the world looks just wonderful.

Our problems, our worth

Everyone has problems.

Some people have more problems.
Some people have bigger problems.

A person's worth isn't based on problems that they have.
Our worth comes from problems that we solve.

Not all the midterms

It turns out a midterm test I was going to take today is actually going to be next week. Silly me, studying so hard so early. That's what I get for not paying attention to schedules and deadlines, I guess. I'm glad that I got the date early rather than late, though.

Another thing I learned. Each half of the test will be administered on different days, one being a knowledge part and and the other being a practical part. For the practical parts of midterms, we are given an assignment and several hours to actually put together the desired code. My midterms haven't ever been given two days to be done, so this is new and, in my opinion, pleasant. Once I just barely couldn't finish a midterm by the end of class because I was stuck on a bit of the practical part. Do you remember how frustrated I was that I couldn't finish? I remember telling you about it. The instructor decided to discount the practical part, instead just using our work to unofficially gauge our learning in the class. Most of the class simply gave up on that practical, by the way. Only one person managed to finish it.

Well, more studying to be done this week. Wish me luck for next week!