It’s really overwhelming. I’m writing this after I watched the movie “My Girl.” The little girl, who must be 11 years old, beautifully portrayed her feelings. She had lost her mom in childbirth. Vada’s mother died two days after Vada’s birth.

Her grandmother suffers from dementia, and her father owns a funeral parlor. These consecutive things traumatized the little girl, which made her visit the doctor frequently out of anxiety. These incidents accentuate her fear of death. She spends the summer with her friend Thomas J., who seems to be a nerd and is allergic to almost everything.

Other children would tease them, thinking of their relationship as not only friendship but more than that. Her widowed father falls in love with the funeral parlor’s makeup artist. After getting to know her father’s relationship, Vada started showing hatred for Shelly.Fear of abandonment made her do things, which included taking efforts to disrupt her father’s date of playing bingo game with Shelly. She was afraid of being left alone. She doesn’t want to lose the love of her father too. On one occasion Shelly’s husband showed up at her house; Vada hoped that he could take her back.

This little girl longed for love, which made her fall in love with her teacher, Mr. Bixler. Vada learns about the poetry class, which is supposed to be conducted for adults, and steals Shelly’s money to pay for the class. She was desperate for love, which made her do impulsive things. Her only comfort is Thomas. J, in one scene, we could see them having a conversation in the woods, and they both share a kiss of wondering how kissing a person would be.

Thomas J. had come to know that Vada had lost her ring, so he went into the woods to look for her ring in order to make her happy but got stung by bees and died eventually since he was allergic to bees when looking for Vada’s lost mood ring. She learns about Thomas J.’s death and stays in the room throughout the whole day, as she couldn’t bear the pain of his death. At the funeral of Thomas J., Vada gets a glance at his body, which has been kept in the casket, can’t hold the grief, and runs to Mr.Bixler’s house and flees away after getting to know about his engagement, and she runs to the willow tree and mourns, remembering the memories she had with Thomas J., who was her only consolation.

Grief also mends the crack that occurred between her and her father, and she started accepting Shelly as her stepmother. Most of the time Vada owns the guilt of killing her mother. Though her mother died 2 days after her birth. Her father explains that her mother’s death was not her fault. Here we learn about how to cope with grief, pain, and trauma. At the end of summer, Mrs.Sennett (mother of Thomas J.) was consoled by Harry Sultenfuss (father of Vada).

We constantly face problems, and over time, they can shrink our ability to face new ones. We experience stress and anxiety, and it becomes difficult to stay optimistic when life does not treat us well. Still, by learning a few ways to cope with stress, we can overcome anything. What follows are experiences and insights I have gathered from various sources.

Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness simply means being present. Spending time in nature truly helps nature repairs and calms our neurological system. If you are stressed or constantly struggling with anxiety, try engaging in a hobby. Hobbies ease the mind, give the brain a break, and calm the nervous system. Include physical activity in your routine. Exercise helps release stress, and sweating increases dopamine secretion, which improves mood and focus. If you are a busy person, learn to manage your time effectively. Use a tracker to monitor daily habits like reading. Even reading two pages a day creates a sense of achievement and consistency.

Set alarms for small but important tasks such as recharging devices or paying bills, so you don’t miss them and stress later. Take short breaks while working. Read, write, draw, or chat with a friend these activities ease the brain and improve efficiency. Instead of endlessly scrolling on your phone, engage mindfully in something meaningful, like listening to a podcast or watching a YouTube video in your favorite genre. Learn to organize your tasks. Avoid multitasking; focus on one task at a time. Be fully present while doing anything. Do not work while your mind is elsewhere, as this leads to mistakes and stress. Make it a habit to write down all the tasks for the next day. Create a structured schedule and try to follow it. Include activities like going to the gym, maintaining a clean routine, and decluttering your desk, bag, or shelves. Before leaving the house, pause and check whether you have turned off the stove, lights, fans, or motor. This simple habit can save you hours of unnecessary stress. Learn to work smart and improve efficiency. Use checklists to track daily tasks. Be responsible and take ownership of your day. Responsibility requires maturity. Staying occupied helps prevent stress from interrupting your daily routine. Continuous motion keeps the mind from dwelling on worries.

Look for opportunities to lead. Leadership trains the brain to be more responsible and confident. By leading, you become more disciplined and productive, often becoming an example to others. Sometimes, pretending to be confident and responsible helps you become that person. Any activity practiced consistently for twenty one days can become a habit.

Most importantly, care for someone, your parents, spouse, children, or even pets. Caring for others gives life meaning and responsibility. Share your happiness with loved ones, give them gifts, and make them feel valued. Plan your daily tasks and try to love your job. If you cannot love it, remind yourself why you are still there. At the very least, it provides stability and sustenance. Alongside your job, work toward becoming the person you want to be. If you are unhappy, do not complain make decisions and take responsibility. Do not blame others for what you couldn’t achieve. If something is beyond your control, let it go. Be kind to yourself; your time will come. Even pretending to be hopeful can change your perception.

Visualize what you desire. Focus on your goals and believe in them. Belief has power. Trust yourself first. Stay confident, respect yourself, and love yourself. This teaches others how to treat you. Live in the moment. Do not be too hard on yourself. Love yourself as deeply as you love others. Do not rush life. Enjoy sunsets, silence, freedom, weather, and nature. Even ten minutes of stillness matters. Sit alone, put your phone aside, and observe life the people, trees, buildings, and beauty around you. Notice small details; they heal your inner child.

When you eat, just eat. When you write, just write. When you read, just read. Be fully present in whatever you do. List the things that make you anxious. If anxiety comes from a lack of skill, start learning it. Identify where you are lagging and work on yourself. Growth builds confidence, and confidence builds positivity. Manage tasks smartly and complete them within allotted time. Productivity increases confidence and optimism. If you want to pursue a hobby, dedicate at least twenty minutes daily. That small investment boosts energy and positivity.

Taking regular breaks improves efficiency and productivity. Eat clean food. Healthy eating supports mental clarity and reinforces a sense of discipline. Surround yourself with healthy people. Learn to distinguish wisely. The right people influence your mindset positively. Never let anyone control your mood or disturb your peace. Own the room. Spend wisely. Pause before purchasing and ask if you truly need it. Avoid spending when you are emotionally low. Save more to avoid debt. Do not try to impress others with materialistic things, right people stay without show offs. Spend time meaningfully. Engaging in activities rewires the brain better than spending money. Practice contentment. A life without jealousy, guilt, and anger is a form of meditation. Peace is a real luxury.

Unfollow social media accounts that trigger anxiety. Take breaks from social media. Avoid consuming short-form videos that give instant dopamine rushes. They are unhealthy. Set boundaries. Do not respond to triggers. Never let anyone ruin your twenty four hours. Learn not to take things personally.

Start journaling. Writing helps you understand yourself better and releases mental burden. Learn to let go of people when necessary. Deep down, you already know what needs to be done. Do not wait for happiness, create it everyday. Find what you love and work on it consistently. Forgive yourself as you forgive others. Be gentle with yourself. Let go of the past and move forward.

Invest time in things money cannot buy. Try new things. If something scares you, face it first it builds courage and new perspectives. Stay kind and help others, even if they cannot help you back. Kindness matters. Dress well it boosts confidence and positivity. Even pretending helps; eventually, you become that person. Reuse and repair instead of replacing. Cultivate discipline and self reliance. Learn new skills. Independence builds self esteem.

Audrey Hepburn once said, “Everyone should have at least one exquisite moment every day.” Cherish life.

Never lose curiosity, it keeps life moving. Be structured and organized to discover your true self. Teach people how to treat you. Protect your dignity at all costs. There is always a silver lining, find it! Be patient. Know your place in others’ lives and act accordingly. Never put yourself down. Get enough rest and maintain a healthy sleep schedule. Treat everyone with respect. It reflects who you are. If you are nervous about something, research it thoroughly. Prepare for the worst so you can face it confidently. Learn new theories, skills, languages, or hobbies you’ve been avoiding.

Face your fears. Life is unpredictable, but cultivating resilience helps us handle challenges with optimism and wisdom. Step out into the world. Being on the streets, meeting people, and exploring new places gives you courage, fresh energy, and perspectives you never imagined.

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