Ann Guo

back in January 2014, I'm driving toward a hotel in Cambridge with a sense of dread in my stomach because I can't believe that I, a 38-year-old professional Asian mother, I'm about to become a party crasher. And not just any party, it's the Goldberg Bar Mitzvah. This all started back in 2008 when my son was born, a time that should have been the happiest in my life.

back in January 2014, I'm driving toward a hotel in Cambridge with a sense of dread in my stomach because I can't believe that I, a 38-year-old professional Asian mother, I'm about to become a party crasher. And not just any party, it's the Goldberg Bar Mitzvah. This all started back in 2008 when my son was born, a time that should have been the happiest in my life.

back in January 2014, I'm driving toward a hotel in Cambridge with a sense of dread in my stomach because I can't believe that I, a 38-year-old professional Asian mother, I'm about to become a party crasher. And not just any party, it's the Goldberg Bar Mitzvah. This all started back in 2008 when my son was born, a time that should have been the happiest in my life.

I was diagnosed with postpartum depression. All of a sudden, at work, around the water cooler, I no longer know what to talk about. Instead, I find myself smiling a lot, partly to hide how I was truly feeling inside, and partly because I once read somewhere that the act of smiling will trigger happy chemicals to release in your brain.

I was diagnosed with postpartum depression. All of a sudden, at work, around the water cooler, I no longer know what to talk about. Instead, I find myself smiling a lot, partly to hide how I was truly feeling inside, and partly because I once read somewhere that the act of smiling will trigger happy chemicals to release in your brain.

I was diagnosed with postpartum depression. All of a sudden, at work, around the water cooler, I no longer know what to talk about. Instead, I find myself smiling a lot, partly to hide how I was truly feeling inside, and partly because I once read somewhere that the act of smiling will trigger happy chemicals to release in your brain.

And I can tell you from personal experience that it's a load of crap. The depression lasts around two years or so, but it's not like after two years of darkness, I wake up the next morning and win the lottery. And the happiness and joy from winning the lottery fills up that big emotional deficit from the last two years. Instead, I'm dragging around this deficit, this huge burden, everywhere I go.

And I can tell you from personal experience that it's a load of crap. The depression lasts around two years or so, but it's not like after two years of darkness, I wake up the next morning and win the lottery. And the happiness and joy from winning the lottery fills up that big emotional deficit from the last two years. Instead, I'm dragging around this deficit, this huge burden, everywhere I go.

And I can tell you from personal experience that it's a load of crap. The depression lasts around two years or so, but it's not like after two years of darkness, I wake up the next morning and win the lottery. And the happiness and joy from winning the lottery fills up that big emotional deficit from the last two years. Instead, I'm dragging around this deficit, this huge burden, everywhere I go.

And anytime I have a bad day and I'm feeling a little down, I would worry, maybe it's coming back. Overall, life just felt kind of flat. And I couldn't help but wonder, is this my new normal? Will I ever be as happy as I once was? Now, by the time my son turned five, I said, all right, enough is enough. I'm going to have to do something about this.

And anytime I have a bad day and I'm feeling a little down, I would worry, maybe it's coming back. Overall, life just felt kind of flat. And I couldn't help but wonder, is this my new normal? Will I ever be as happy as I once was? Now, by the time my son turned five, I said, all right, enough is enough. I'm going to have to do something about this.

And anytime I have a bad day and I'm feeling a little down, I would worry, maybe it's coming back. Overall, life just felt kind of flat. And I couldn't help but wonder, is this my new normal? Will I ever be as happy as I once was? Now, by the time my son turned five, I said, all right, enough is enough. I'm going to have to do something about this.

In fact, I'm going to print my own winning lottery ticket. It's going to be something that brings me so much joy and happiness, it'll fill up my emotional bank. Now, what could that thing be, though? I figured I'll look to my past for some clues. So I sat down at my kitchen table and made a list of all the most joyful moments in my life.

In fact, I'm going to print my own winning lottery ticket. It's going to be something that brings me so much joy and happiness, it'll fill up my emotional bank. Now, what could that thing be, though? I figured I'll look to my past for some clues. So I sat down at my kitchen table and made a list of all the most joyful moments in my life.

In fact, I'm going to print my own winning lottery ticket. It's going to be something that brings me so much joy and happiness, it'll fill up my emotional bank. Now, what could that thing be, though? I figured I'll look to my past for some clues. So I sat down at my kitchen table and made a list of all the most joyful moments in my life.

And I look at it, and a lot of them involve going on silly adventures. So I said, all right, if that's what it takes to get back to tip-top shape, so be it. I declare the year 2014 to be the year of adventures, where once a month, I will make time and go on an adventure.

And I look at it, and a lot of them involve going on silly adventures. So I said, all right, if that's what it takes to get back to tip-top shape, so be it. I declare the year 2014 to be the year of adventures, where once a month, I will make time and go on an adventure.

And I look at it, and a lot of them involve going on silly adventures. So I said, all right, if that's what it takes to get back to tip-top shape, so be it. I declare the year 2014 to be the year of adventures, where once a month, I will make time and go on an adventure.

And to help me come up with ideas, and also to help hold me accountable, I sent a mass email to family and friends, making them a deal they can't resist. I said, look, you now have an opportunity to dare me to do whatever it is you want, provided that you donate money to my favorite charity. If I hit my donation target, I will do your dare, no matter what it is.

And to help me come up with ideas, and also to help hold me accountable, I sent a mass email to family and friends, making them a deal they can't resist. I said, look, you now have an opportunity to dare me to do whatever it is you want, provided that you donate money to my favorite charity. If I hit my donation target, I will do your dare, no matter what it is.