I first started lurking here about 8 months ago. Since then I've made significant progress such as becoming more patient, talking LESS while saying MORE, respecting other people MORE, quick mental planning, and work ethic. All of this improvement is from daily meditation and fear of BP tragedy stories posted here. Although I wasn't always as good as I am now.

I became angry and depressed in the beginning because TRP opened my eyes. I see the cracks in my parents marriage, the savings my father built through owning four businesses spent all by my mother to $0 and he let it happen. My mother coming home from work at odd times, sometimes later than others, and my fathers alcoholism to drown out his dead success. It's all so very obvious what's happening here, he went from baller to beta bucks to no bucks beta alcoholic with a temper. Now his wife cheats on him and he's so "faithful," to God he won't leave her. I'll spare you the rest of the painful details.

How does a 19 year old overcome a toxic environment, one that if allowed, will feed and grow my anger/depression? I play a game called Two Positives One Negative. For Example "I live in a home with two people who don't want to be together and it's hell to be around both of them," this is my negative. "I go to college and get to save money on rent while staying at the house AND I'm reminded daily where I don't want my life to be in 40 years," these are my two positives. Another example could be "I got crabs and don't know which girl they're from," then "I'm glad I have enough girls not to know who gave me raider rash," and "My tree looks bigger now that I've cleared the brush around the trunk." Obviously Two Negatives One Positive can be applied to any situation because it's a healthy mindset and a great perspective tool.

In a nutshell if you ever find yourself in a situation that seems to nurture your negative attitude, take a step back, and play the game because it will help you learn from the situation while simultaneously providing a positive mindset!