I know this is going to bring out a bit of my dorkier side, but I want to quote Harry Potter here.

"Dark and difficult times lie ahead. Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy."

Now, to a fellow nerd, one sees the context in the movie. What is happening is that Voldermort has just returned. Harry must realize that he is in mortal danger, even just living. He is the one that will have to fight him later.

As for real life, this seems to be quite applicable. The thing is that it is not in the times ahead. It is now. I'm planning my whole future or so it seems. Grad school is forcing its way into my life. I'm dealing with what seems like a million things right now. I feel like I just want to scream to the world that I'm done. Seriously. I can't handle all of this right now. I mean, if it isn't school kicking my butt, its friends or marriages or babies or something else that is going to drive me insane.

Dating is a story that fits in here. I've been on my fair share of dates lately. I'm pretty sure that the field has been drastically narrowed down, but once again this quote shows its usefulness. I'm going to be honest here. Dating is not an easy thing anymore. You either are the nice girl or the whore. The easy thing to do is just go along with whatever this dude says. This is becoming especially difficult for me. When I look into those eyes or feel the warmth of his embrace or hear the smooth, silky words coming out of a handsome man's mouth, I just want to melt. The thing that I have to decide to do is to stick up for myself. I have to do what is right. I have to go up and say that I'm not dealing with it anymore. And, if history will repeat itself like it has done in the past monthish, they will not see the appeal and decide I'm not worth their time. Well, you know what? You obviously aren't worth mine.

In review of all this and life recently, I notice that I have done the right thing. By no means is it easy. I have lost friends and potential boys over the fact. But at the end of the day, I have to know that all is fine. I mean, in this world you will have troubles. There is no question. It is what you do during those tribulations that shows who you really are. You can be the man or the mouse. Your true character comes out during these times. God gives us a peace. Through all this, the thrill of life is still present. If life was truly good all the time, we would not appreciate it as much. One has to take the bad with the good. It is something that we all must battle. And life is a battle. As so is your heart. You must fight for it. Live for it. Strive to protect it.