It's a great day to be alive!

Well, mid-term exams are over for now! I am officially home for 10 days on break in good ol' Worthington, MN!  Today is just a good day, the sun is shining (even if it is a little cold), I spent the morning with my dog sharing fun-fetti cookie crisp and strawberry yogurt, woke up to mom trying to get my out of bed, I am going to go into work to visit with my fellow co-workers, and here's the best part, it is Gilbert's birthday!  That is my pet fish.  Sadly he is at my house in Omaha, so I can't spend the day with him, but I'm sure he'll be fine!  ;)  Or so I hope, our fish mysteriously happen to die or even have been known to go missing..strange ( I have my suspicions about the other person I live with).
Anyways, I just wanted to say how I am so blessed to have a wonderful family to come home to and spend time with.  Even when it seems like my world is falling apart, all I have to do is call up my family and talk with them and they always seem to put my world back together.  I hope everyone out there has a support system like I do, whether it be a friend, a sister, a cousin, a teacher, etc.

Enjoy this song by Travis Tritt.  It's called "It's a Great Day to be Alive"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnr1saD8hBQ

Mid-Terms=Stress

Okay so this week I have a 2 mid-term exams.  One is tomorrow and one is Thursday.  Unfortunately I have YET to study for the exam tomorrow.  I'm really struggling to focus right now and every time I sit down to start studying I go to do something else (like decide to blog).  I think part of the reason why I can't focus right now is because I am so excited to get to go home at the end of the week.  I have not seen my family in over 6 weeks, and Thursday can't come soon enough. 
So here I sit..note cards all around me waiting to be studied..books in front of me waiting to be read..and documents on my computer waiting to be filled out.  Yet I can't stop thinking about things I need to remember to pack for when I go home and things I need to bring back to school with me when I come back to good ol' Omaha. 
Being away from my family for so long has really made me appreciate them so much more.  I realize how blessed I am to have such a supportive family while pursuing a doctorate degree.
When I am home for fall break, I am going to take in as much time as possible with my family, let them know I love them and appreciate them.  Thinking of them is what is going to get me through the next 3 1/2 years of school.  It may be tough being down here by myself without the feeling of love and security I get from being with my family, but I believe with the support and love from them I can do this.
Please enjoy the song posted below.  I listen to it regularly when I'm feeling alone, when I'm stressed about school and other life issues, and when I when I'm missing my family.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf3QFvbRORY

Slowly Change the World

So I came across this the other day, and it kind of made me think.  Why am I quick to get angry, and the continue to stay angry? All anger does is stress me out, make me focus less, and make me less pleasant to be around.  Why is it so hard to just let things go?  Letting things go is probably one of the hardest things for me to do.  Why? Because I'm stubborn.  I know I'm stubborn and isn't the first thing to fixing a problem, recognizing that you have a problem?
Maybe this is a picture that I can now reflect back on as a reminder to let more things "roll off my back."
I recognize that I have a problem, I also recognize that our world has a problem.  If I make a conscious effort to try and be a better individual can't everyone else?  I mean it will only make those around us happier, isn't that a better bargain?
Being angry with someone and holding a grudge really is letting someone "live rent-free in your head," and to be honest, I'm a broke college student I can't afford to hold a grudge.  From now on, I'm going to start charging people, and something tells me people won't pay up just for me to hold a grudge. (jokes, laugh)
I'll end with this.  If you read this blog, today try to make a conscious effort to let things go.  If someone does something that irks your nerves let it slide.  I will make the conscious effort to do the same, and maybe by not getting upset others can recognize that action. And slowly through acts of kindness and humbleness we can slowly change the world.


"Know this my dear brothers: everyone should be quick to head, slow to speak, slow to wrath, for the wrath of a man does not accomplish the righteousness of God.  Therefore put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the work that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls."     -James 1: 19-21