Gratitude

Life can't always be rough, you know?

I was thinking this today after talking to my kindred spirit/bff. I mean, she and I have had some hard stuff to deal with. Sometimes I look around at the lives of other people and feel shafted. It's hard not to, even if I know we shouldn't compare. And maybe other people look at our lives and think how they were shafted. It really isn't a healthy thing, that comparing and envying of others thing.

But really, I mean this with all my heart. It can't always be sad and hard. Not that I haven't had happiness in my life. Not that I haven't been blessed. Not that I haven't been really, really blessed. And so I think that has to be the focus for now, until things do get easier. Like what I am grateful for and all of that. And while I hope for better things to come.

So what am I grateful for? Well, just about all the lovely people who've come into my life. I mean, there are too many to name, but I've never been without amazing friends. I'm really blessed that way. And there are lots of beautiful things I've seen. I mean, I nearly cried when I first saw the Louvre and realized that I got to go inside and have a look-see at all that culture. Wow! And I can still remember looking out over the Forest of Dean and thinking to myself that that was perfection. A cool breeze blowing over a valley of rivers and trees and hills. Sometimes you look out over the vast world, and you feel like you are seeing the hand of God, right there in front of you. It takes your breath away. I've seen so very many places like that. I'm super glad that I've been able to go to school so much, even if it was hard and I'm unsure of my next step. I'm grateful that I'll always have a family that loves me and cares for me. Always. Like when my brother buys me delish Thai food and has it waiting for me and his wife after a long day on the road. Or when my sweet little nieces give me hugs and kisses and make me laugh and laugh.

That is just a little taste of why I am so lucky. I'm so so lucky. And life can't always be like this. It won't always be like this. It won't...It won't!