It's late-definitely past my bedtime. Especially since sleep has been quite the stranger lately. Restless nights and crabby-until-I-get-my-coffee mornings have made me reevaluate my life this week, and it's only Wednesday (although, I guess technically it's Thursday now).  So instead of sleeping, or hanging out with the friends I come to appreciate more every single day, I've been doing a bit of soul searching. And by that I mean quote creeping on Pinterest, of course. Here's what I found for today. After some humbling reflection, I've realized how important this message is.

I've spent so much time this year focusing on what I want. On getting accepted to "grad school," bringing Alpha Mu Gamma to campus, being elected to a position in Delta Gamma…I could continue the list forever, and then some. But now that I've been accepted into my pharmacy program, Senate approved AMG, and I've become the Honor Board Sophomore Member, I feel like I'm at such as loss. I've worked and worked and worked and reached my goals, so now what? I struggled most of last weekend and this week with finding a way to answer that question and fill the strange void in my stress-o-meter. Believe it or not, I finally found an answer: all I needed to do was count my blessings. I needed to remember what I've had all along…what's helped make me, well, me and bring me to where I am today. Here are just a few.


1. My parents. They push me hard, even when they don't know they are doing so. I love making them proud. 


2. My DG sisters. I've spent so much more time with Sar, Kathy, Ann, Rachel, Ame, ERob, and Kitty than I have in the past, and I love every moment of it. I can't wait to get closer to these lovely ladies this semester and last year.


3. My St. Pascal friends. Through thick and thin, Curtis and Brittany have stood by me since Day One of kindergarten. They're great. I appreciate them more than they'll ever know. 


4. My smart pen. Sometimes it's just so dang difficult to pay attention to Senchina when he wears an earring to class. I think he's deliberately trying to distract me. Man, you've just gotta love technology.


5. My Drake fam. I love my big, and I love my little. We don't always get to spend time together, but when we do, I'm reminded why Drake is so great. 


6. My study abroad advisor. I can't wait to get out and see the world. I've already begun checking countries off my travel bucket list, and this summer I'll get to cross off one more. I'm going to start a countdown soon.


7. My teddy bears. Sometimes you just need a good cuddle. No one knows how to snuggle like a teddy.


8. My staff. Being a resident assistant is really something else. No typed description could bring it any justice. But I have a wonderful staff, and I couldn't be more grateful for the few that have really been there for me lately.


9. My orgs. Colleges Against Cancer is starting to play a bigger role in my life. I usually am unable to attend meetings, yet I still feel like a member of the club. I can't wait for Relay for Life. I seriously couldn't be more excited.


10. My church. Hope is the best part of my week for so many reasons. If I could build a fort under the twinkle lights, I'd live their forever just to hear Pastor Mike share is wisdom. 


That's what I did tonight. A huge wave of relief washed over me after I thought about all of the things I'm thankful for. I'm living the good life as far as I'm concerned, and I refuse to keep losing sight of that because of futile concerns. Try it sometime.