Simple Reminders

Forgive me for taking so long to write this next blog, it's a little difficult typing with a huge cast on my arm. So yes, I went down the hill of death on a skateboard (that is literally what it's called), and yes I had to have surgery on my wrist because of it. But as my dad said, it's all part of the adventure! 

Besides the wrist break, this week has actually been one of the best. Tuesday morning was the start of it all. We woke up early around 5 like we normally do to go surfing. I was sitting out in the water where the waves were a little calmer and the water was a little clearer, and I was thinking how cool it would be if a stingray or a dolphin or something would just come up to my board. Just a little something to make this surf trip more memorable than the rest. Within 5 minutes, my friend Dawson pointed and yelled, "did you see that seal?!" So, of course, I started swimming in that direction of the seal. Before I could've paddled maybe 8 feet, it literally popped up before my board. The seal had come right up behind my board, face and big teeth all in clear view. I honestly think it was one of the happiest moments of my life. It continued to swim around us some more til it left and we decided to get out of the water. It definitely made a memorable surf trip. We left the beach, went about the normal day, class, lunch, work duties etc. Later that night is when we all decided to go skateboarding. It was honestly a blast and I was a little surprised that I could keep up since I haven't really been skateboarding in a while. We went to the hill of death, where our leader had previously informed us it wasn't the safest to go down, and people usually get hurt. And I think I built up a little too much confidence in the parking garages, because when we got to the hill, I just went for it. There was a point where I was like, "Oh this isn't so bad at all I got it", and then just like that it got to a point where I was thinking, "Oh no I'm done, I'm gonna die, there's absolutely nothing I can do now, I'm done, this is going to hurt". And then I just jumped. Got pretty scraped up, but kept skating. Later in the night I began to realize my wrist was definitely not okay. We went to the hospital, and then the whole process began. Friday I went in for surgery, they put a metal screw in my wrist, and that was that. It was a very long process, somewhat frustrating and a little irritating, but in all honesty, that entire week, through all the pain and hospital visits, I could not stop thinking about that seal. And I could not stop thinking about how thankful I was. 

My parents probably wish I hadn't of gone down a hill called The Hill of Death, but as hard as it might be for them to see right now, I would absolutely do it again. And as odd as it may sound, you'll see how thankful I am that it ended the way it did. 

Like I said, this entire week, I could not stop thinking about that seal. In everything that happened, I was so thankful and happy about that stupid seal. It got me thinking about the little things, and everything that we take for granted or just goes unnoticed. So I just started thanking God for everything that had happened that day, dissecting every detail of my day and being thankful for it. How that seal literally popped up, in that ginormous ocean, exactly where I was sittinng, right after the thought had crossed my mind. And it wasn't just a coincidence and I didn't just get lucky, that seal was put there simply for my enjoyment. Gods simple humor. I was so thankful for that. And for the skateboard accident, I was truly thankful for that too! Sure, it ended unfortunately, but the fall is not what I will remember. The pure joy, excitement, achievement, cheer and sweet enjoyment I felt with the people, the family I have developed here. That day was truly one of the best days I have ever had. And I realized that when I learned to be truly thankful. If at the end of your day, you take some time to focus on all that happened that day, all the specific details and all the things you normally wouldn't notice, and look at them with a grateful heart, you will realize how much of a greater day you had than you think. And you will overall be a much happier person. Bad things happen every single day, and they're going to happen whether we like it or not. And I think we naturally, and sadly, have a tendency to focus so much of our energy on all the bad things that happen rather than the good. In the end, that only makes our lives so much harder. We go about every day missing all the little things. Life is happening all around us and we are missing it. Take some time to think about where you are in your life right now. All that you have to be grateful for. Don't think about what you don't have, what needs to be done or what you wish you had, just think about what you do have. Think about all the things that have been placed before you simply for your enjoyment. It is an automatic mood changer. I look at my own life, think about how much I have been blessed with, and then think about how disgusting I must look when I am complaining, or pouting, or feeling sorry for myself. There are so many people who have nothing, and are content. I think about how much worse i could have it, and just like that this sweet little life, these minimal, pathetic problems don't seem so bad anymore. Start ending your day with a perspective of thankfulness, and you will never waste a day in your life again. And all the problems you think you have, all the things you feel sorry about will minimize, and will turn into things by which you feel blessed. 

It's funny how much joy I get out of the little things I now recognize. Being thankful has the obvious potential to overall make you a better person. Someone more encouraging, respectable and easier to be around. You become someone who is able to look at all the unfortunate things, and choose to see them as irrelevant. We can look at things in life two very different ways. Treat your life as it was given to you, like a gift. See everything and everyone set before you as nothing but there for your happiness, for your fulfillment and simply, for your enjoyment.