Being a girl is bittersweet. There are such heights, and super lows. There are holidays (and even whole months!) celebrating what being a woman is all about — and yet we hear stories of abuse, either spousal or substance.

Life’s too short! Everything’s really easy, once you get the hang of it. The sad part is, there are women in the world who are so used to feeling bad, or depressed, that it affects the way they function — they go into a vicious cycle where there are no ups, no downs, just a life flatlining, flashing, beeping, calling for immediate attention.

There are lengthy lists of things a girl can do to feel better, but that’s after the cause/effect. There are things in a girl’s life that she can avoid to make sure that she doesn’t go into a flat lined life.

Abuse – Any kind of abuse. Be it physical, mental, or social abuse. Don’t be a victim! Never ever allow yourself to fall into the victim mentality. You are in control of your own life — if a situation feels like a prized UFC fighter repeatedly pummeling your gut, it’s time to move. This doesn’t just apply to abusive relationships with people; I have friends who do ecstasy who have high enough egos to not want to accept that they need help. Substance abuse is not a world you want to be in, unless you want to have your friends worry over you.

Flaky People – This doesn’t just apply to boyfriends who frequently leave you waiting — this applies to any one person who lets you down. Forgive a bit too easy and they’ll do it over and over again. Time for a girl is never ever enough — there are tons of beautiful things and people the world has to offer — never waste a minute of it waiting hand-and-foot on someone who’s bound to let you down.

Insincerity – Aside from being a girl, you are a person — treat the world with respect and you deserve respect in return as well. So you were born attractive, great. It’s a nice feeling to be admired for your looks, but there’s a deeper satisfaction in being recognized for something you’ve done — a painting, an essay or a photograph that’s bound to carry your name for years to come. Flattery gets people talking, but getting compliments when you’ve done nothing at all? That makes me suspicious.

Watching Your Dreams Go By – Never ever let this happen to you. If you’ve dreamt of being a doctor to heal the sick when you were a little girl, then by all means, it is never, ever too late. What’s the worst thing that could happen from pursuing a dream? Dying while doing the very thing you love? Nothing’s too important when you know exactly what you want — and there will always be a way, or a means for achieving it.

Being Afraid to Stand Out – As you grow up, you tend to learn that most things other people say DO NOT reflect the truth about you. So when people say you’re a "suck-up" or a "teacher’s pet" when in reality you’re doing a great job — it shouldn’t put you off. Never let things like that get under your skin — you are a star, special in every which way … why not celebrate it?