Editor Carson Barrow (Photo by Jen Sens)

As part of my quest for inspiration for my letter from the editor, I spent yesterday afternoon tucked away in the Orange & Blue office reading past letters from the editor. While a few followed the tirade blueprint, most stuck to waxing sentimental about their time at UF or discussing certain stories. But what I noticed, being the foot-stomping brat that I am, was that none of them seemed to be written for me, the then-reader. So many of our stories, I feel, are a service to the reader, written for his or her personal enrichment. Why should the letter from the editor be any different?

So, with charitable notions clouding my head, I'm going to enrich you. I'm going to tell you about some fairly well-kept secrets that I like to call "Carson's Keys to Happiness."

No. 1 : Jelly Belly jelly beans. Girls for years have been mistakenly eating pints of ice cream (obviously without putting it in a bowl first) as a cure for a rough day. But, really, there's something far more comforting about biting into a piece of candy that tastes like popcorn. It's a reminder of the endless possibilities in life.

No. 2 : Freddie Mercury. This is the guy from Queen (think "We are the Champions"). I am confident that Sean Paul aficionados and Rage Against the Machine lovers alike will find inspiration in the unparalleled power of his voice. The beauty of it just may give you goosebumps.

No. 3 : The Tuesday Alligator crossword puzzle (the Alligator crossword cannot be found online, so we are linking you to another great crossword puzzle). The Monday one isn't quite the necessary challenge and the Thursday and Friday ones are a cruel joke, but Tuesday is just right. The first time you finish it on your own, you'll feel so accomplished and at-peace with your capabilities. Don't be ashamed to hang it on the fridge.

No. 4 : Sit-ups. Whenever you are angry or frustrated or in some stressful situation, do stomach crunches until your tummy tingles. I'm not sure if there's some chemical explanation for this phenomenon or if it's just so tiring that you have no energy for anger, but it works.

No. 5 : "It’s A Wonderful Life." This movie has been unfairly compared to those sappy Hallmark movies, but I'd like to argue that heartwarming does not equal sappy. If you ever get down on life, watch this movie and let Jimmy Stewart remind you to never feel sorry for yourself.