|
|
| | 1. How to Avoid Depression
This isn't a guide for when something really bad has happened to you (lost someone close to you, broke up with significant other, etc.), because I think it's normal for you to feel sad when things like that happen. It's part of the mourning process. This is more a guide for people who just have a tendency to feel down for no real reason -- the blues just hit them, now and then, with no external stimulus. Here's what I've discovered helps me to not be depressed.
a) Don't be lazy!
It's so tempting to skip an obligation (work, study session, class, gym, etc.) out of laziness. "I just don't feel like going today." But I've discovered that I ALWAYS feel more depressed by NOT going. Humans were meant to be busy, to keep occupied. And I think doing something productive actually lifts my spirits. Whereas staying at home makes me feel guilty and bored. Too listless. When I'm starting to get depressed, nothing appeals to me. However, by going out to do something I'm supposed to do, I feel more fulfilled, and thus, happier.
b) Ask for help.
This one is hard to actually do. When I'm starting to feel depressed about something (e.g. I'm scared I made a huge mistake at work, or I see too many of my flaws staring at me, or I think I accidentally hurt someone I care about), the LAST thing I want to do is talk about it. Like, it's hard to put the negative emotions into words. I don't know how other people will react when I tell them I'm feeling depressed (will they sympathize? will they pity me? will they roll their eyes? will they ask too many questions?), and it just seems like such a hassle to talk about it. So, I naturally shy away from talking about it.
However, I've discovered that asking people for help pays huge dividends. Letting someone know you're stressed or depressed or anxious (your boss, your roommate, your teacher, your friend) often leads to their HELPing you out somehow. They might ease some of your fears. Or they might give you new insight into a situation you thought was hopeless. Or they might just encourage you by telling you how much they like you (for those times you hate yourself). It helps. You feel better. And plus, if they know the situation, you feel less alone. And that definitely helps.
c) Get more sleep.
I hear lack of sleep and depression go hand in hand. I don't think this is that true for me (when I'm depressed, I sleep MORE), but it might be for other people, so I thought I'd mention it. Things DO often seem brighter after a good night's sleep, though. Situations that seemed irresolvable can sometimes seem trivial in the morning.
d) Take risks! Risks = Rewards.
If there's anything that's absolutely TRUE in life, it's that things CAN (and WILL) surprise you. You might think you know everything about a situation (for me that would be: my long distance relationship looks like it has NO chance of ever being non-long distance, at least in the foreseeable future), but you don't. Things ALWAYS surprise you. For example, one of you could die, resolving the whole situation that way. (Haha, morbid, but true!) More likely, something completely out of left field can knock you on the head and totally throw you off your feet. And so, why feel depressed about a situation that's not as fatal and unsolvable as you initially thought? Just because YOU can't think of a resolution, doesn't mean that there isn't one! Just be patient, and take it day by day, and most importantly, go out and TRY stuff. Unexpected opportunities often emerge!
2. Speaking of the unexpected... today something crazy happened to me. I know this is starting to turn into a LOOK AT ME, I AM SO FAMOUS blog. But my stories are FUN! Right? =P
So I get a message on IM when I'm at work. It's a stranger, who's like, "Hi can I call you?" Of course I'm like, "What is this about?" And then he goes on to say that he works at a national magazine (for music) and that he read one of my articles in MY magazine and he wants to talk about my writing. So, I give him my (work) number.
Turns out, he read a feature I wrote (er, it was about putting "stickers" on your game systems to help protect them from scratches and make them look nicer. I took several different stickers and tested them out, then wrote about how well they did and didn't work. Honestly, I felt like I could've done it much better and was worried that people would find it too boring.). Actually, his friend handed him the mag and forced him to read my article, and he was so impressed that he wants me to write for them.
He pretty much offered me a full time job on the spot, without even knowing me. (That makes him SHADY so I will never work full time with him! Most likely. Never say never, but... I doubt it. But freelance? Definitely a possibility, if my boss approves.) He adored my writing. He said he loved the descriptions and they just blew him away.
Dude, you can't SAY that and expect me to ever write anything again that will even remotely live up to that. Plus, it wasn't THAT good. So...maybe I can't trust his taste. Or maybe he was just trying to flatter me? (Trying TOO hard, I might add.)
Anyway, based on that ONE article, he looked me up on the internet, found my contact info, and contacted me. He called while I was at work, with my co-worker sort of listening in, so I told him I'd email him later. He wanted to know (without even letting me say whether I was interested or not), what I could do if he set up interviews with people for me...would I be able to write an article about that? (Of course! I'm a professional, haha. But could I write an article that will blow him out of the water again? DOUBTFUL. His expectations are too high!) And when I told him I know NOTHING about music, it didn't seem to faze him at all.
Wow, I think he just really loved my writing in that article. O.o (You wouldn't know I was that talented by reading my blog. Ha. You wouldn't know it by reading that article, either!) Anyway, freelance work is always nice. So I'll ask my boss what the company stance is on that, and go from there. No way am I quitting my current job for that one, though! I <3 games.
3. E3 Update.
Totally forgot about this. Let's see...highlights.
- I walked 2-3 miles each day. (Even though the main conference was in one small collection of hallways, some of the press conferences were like 2/3 mile away. Of course I had to walk both there and back.) Great exercise! =) Every booth had food though. Inside the convention center, they have Starbucks too!
- I saw a lot of fantastic games. Some are under embargo, so I better not mention any. =)
- I met a LOT of people! My boss told me beforehand that my goal at the conference was to network network network, so oh boy did I network. I stayed late after every demo to give my card to the presenters. I always tried to say something unique, too. (I thanked one guy for talking in complete sentences. I used to have to transcribe interviews a lot when I was an intern, and his were easier cuz he talked so coherently. Oh, the guy was Ted Price, for anyone who knows who that is. =P I was a little bit embarrassed later...maybe I came off too ditzy, but hey! Hopefully he'll remember me!) My boss told me to vomit on everyone's shoes so they'd remember me. (I didn't, of course!)
I talked to the director of Home, some of the developers of LittleBigPlanet. A lot of the Sony people (duh). I apparently stared moon-eyed at Genova Chan (flOw, Flower). I talked for like an hour about MMOs to the lead designer of DC Universe Online (who also designed Everquest, haha). I forget who else, but I have a huge stack of cards. I have an advantage in being remembered, though, since I was like one of ten female journalists roaming the hallways! Haha! But I don't think I'll remember all the people I met. I always have people come up and talk to me as if we'd met, and I have the hardest time placing them.
- I gained like 10 levels in driving. =) Downtown LA. During morning and afternoon traffic! GOOD JOB!
- We had a staff dinner at Roy's. (Japanese fusion seafood restaurant with really good butterfish and delicious wine.) It was good. Pricey, haha, but I didn't pay, so it was fantastic. I also felt like I got to bond with my co-workers more, which is nice.
- The exhibit hall was rather uncrowded. (I didn't spend much time there, though. I was mostly in private rooms because I had a ton of appointments.) I got to play LBP there, though, then again in the private Sony lounge. People kept talking about how the whole event was too empty. I liked it, though.
Overall, a great experience. Tiring and stressful, but I had a ton of fun. I got to meet a lot of important people, too, so hooray for me and my career! (But mostly, for me and my fanboyism.) | | | Posted 7/29/2008 8:59 PM - 214 Views - 4 eProps - 2 comments
- recommend
  - recs0
- share
- email
 - sent0
|
|
