But master,

Nothing is going right in my life,
I feel sad and want to cry.

This is normal grasshopper, to feel sadness.
What isn't wise is to allow yourself to remain in
a sad state of mind. You are very young and you
have many more years to live. If you let negativity
dominate, so will be your fate. The wise man seeks
to keep his spirits up, he does not allow them to rule
corrupt.

But master,

How does one keep his spirits up when everything is
going wrong?

Look out the window at the squirrels, the birds and the rest of the animals. The squirrel hops and climbs around like he's going to live forever. The birds fly around and enjoy like there is no end to life. An animal will cling to life until his last breath has been taken, then he will still try to survive.  We aren't animals grasshopper but there is a great lesson to learn from them. That lesson is, they don't seem to worry about the future. It seems as though they are in a continuous mood of joy. If you can learn this technique and apply it in your life, you will have much joy even in the midst of sadness. It isn't the sadness that matters, only that you know how to enjoy regardless of it and don't give up your sunshine so easily.

But master,

It seems real hard to keep my sunshine in the midst of my sadness.

Yes, grasshopper you have just quoted the first lesson of life, it is very hard at times. Embrace this negativity and use it to keep yourself strong positively. Once you realize your handicap, you can better defend yourself from harm. Do not expect life to be easy all the time. Learn to get joy from overcoming your adversities. In kung-fu we teach you to use your opponents moves against him. It's no different in life, you learn to use lifes negativity to help make you stronger. If you allow your mind to be defeated with negativity, you've lost the fight. Life is going to come at you in the worst way sometimes, keep your mind strong mentally and your troubles will be few. Start right at this moment by putting a smile on your face and telling yourself that you will be like the animal, hold on to your life even in the absence of breath. Be a fighter, fight for your happiness.

But master,

how do I fight for happiness when I do not have it?

Grasshopper I am blind, I have been blind for years. I do not see with my eyes. How do you think I maintain my happiness? You are asking a blind man to answer a question that you can write on paper and read. Do it not make you happy that you have sight? That in itself is a reason to have joy. I am not a happy man because everything in my life is going right. I am happy because I can deal with my lifes adversities effectively and still survive. And most of all, because I have the wisdom to excercise choice. I choose to be a happy man regardless.

You go now grasshopper, go watch the squirrels, the birds and the rest of the animals in the sunlight. Go watch and enjoy what I can not see, then count your blessings.

I will rest now grasshopper.

Good day.

G