how lucky are we?

PSA: I wrote this before the ZB controversey. He still sucks but it is undeniable how much I love his music. So yes, maybe 28 inspired me to write this, but he can't credit ;)

Life is easy to complain about. There always seems to be something not going our way, something that is stressing us out, or something to be mad about. I would be a hypocrite to say that I am not a prime victim to these feelings. I constantly wake up with a new thing to complain about. 

Maybe it is the essay that is weighing over my head. 

Maybe it is the fact that my body feels sore and I had to fight to get out of bed this morning.

Maybe I was pissed about going to my 8 am discussion class with a professor who drives me bonkers and the simple idea of walking my lazy ass to campus was enough to start my day on the wrong foot. 

Maybe it’s the stress of having to get an internship next summer and do something “for my career” while also making enough money to sustain my expensive taste. 

Just writing this has made me think of more and more things to complain about. 

But, what we forget to include in our daily thinking is why we have these problems in the first place. Growing up has taught me a multitude of things; how to mail an absentee ballot, how to get my oil changed and even how to cash a check. I mean, adulting is a breeze. (that was sarcasm, just hard to hear it through this page). 

Yet, without a doubt in my mind, the best thing growing up has given me is perspective. Perspective to change the outlook of my day, month, and even year. It really is one of our most powerful tools. So, when I wake up and want to complain, I try my best to change the narrative. In doing this, I've been able to release a lot of the stress that built up around me. It is no perfect practice, but I can’t deny that it helps. 

Here’s a little list I complied:

• How lucky am I to have things to be nervous over? That just means I am lucky enough to have things to care about. 

• How lucky am I to be stressed about an exam?

• How lucky am I to be upset about a grade?

• How lucky am I to have an education when so many don’t even get the privilege of a good book?

• How lucky am I to go fill my car up with gas that takes me to and from all of my favorite places?

• How lucky am I to feel sore after a workout?

• How lucky am I to have a body that moves and lets me live the life I always dreamed of?

• How lucky am I to be busy?

• How lucky am I to make weird meals from my fridge?

• How lucky am I to be worried about what I’m going to wear this weekend?

• How lucky am I to have places that feel like home?

• How lucky am I to have dreams and places I want to go and people I want to become? Like a Mom, a wife, and an aunt. 

• How lucky am I to make mistakes I get to learn from?

• How lucky am I to complain about my room being chilly in the winter?

• How lucky am I to have anxiety about where I’m going?

• How lucky am I to be healthy and have a family?

• How lucky am I to be a daughter, a friend, and a sister? Even when I am not perfect at it...

• How lucky am I to watch the sun set and rise?

• How lucky am I to be me?

• How lucky am I to feel love, even when it sometimes means I’ll be in pain? 

I could go on and on but I think you get it. You are the only one who has the power to change how you view hard things. When you have things that are hard, it means you’re doing something right. You’re going after the person you want to become. And how lucky are we to have that?

Never stop chasing the best version of yourself. It might make you stressed, or nervous, or wanting to take a never ending nap, but that may just be the world's way of putting you on the right path. The path you're passionate about. It's all in the way you choose to look at it.

I love you all so dearly,

P