Wow, it’s been a little over one year now since I started this blog. I have learned absolutely a lot, just from writing about things that have been on my mind at one point or another. I’ve probably learned a lot more just about the world around me than any school can possibly teach. I know it probably sounds like a stretch, but that’s what I got out of it.
One year ago, I was in a totally different place with other things that were plaguing me. I was in a house, living in a little closet of a room, living day to day. Always worried about the possibility that in that next semester I might have to go home if I didn’t get an EA slot that would have allowed me to continue on that path of becoming an officer in the Air Force. Living in a house of people that didn’t really know what it meant to be a true friend. They always preached the word, but they never practiced it. No one’s perfect, but realizing your faults is way more mature than pretending that you don’t have them.
But I realized that if I wasn’t able to somehow talk about the things that bothered me, it would destroy me from the inside. I didn’t really care that maybe no one would care to listen, it was all for myself anyway. I still sometimes go back and read the posts that meant a lot to me and it sometimes does bring me to tears (you didn’t hear that from me by the way). Not only was I able to get those things off my chest, but I also found out that I’m not the only one that has things to worry about. I met a lot of unique people, saw things through their perspective and realized that, yes, I have problems. But nothing’s going to change if you just wallow in your own self pity.
I have the opportunity to change myself as well as encourage the people around me. So why not use that gift that God has blessed me with and start making a difference? I tell myself this everyday, but even just the little things can make such a huge difference. A smile, taking those few extra seconds to hold open that door for somebody, little things like that. You can change someone’s life, you have no idea.
The news today only seems to point out tragic stories of murder, kidnappings, rape. Why is it always those things that tend to put a damper on one’s attitude towards life. There’s such a good side to life, but it can be hard to find if all we are exposed to are stories of war, death, and famine.
So if there was one thing that I learned in the past year, that has affected how I view life as well as carry it out is that no matter who you are, you absolutely can make a difference. It might not be world changing or nobel prize worthy, but being able to save someone in some way you could never have expected, is worth more than anything. So just know that you are more than one person in a world of 7 billion. It just depends on how you want to make your impression on those around you.
Don’t let those smiles fool you. I’ve found out that more often than not, the happiest people are the one’s that truly need someone to talk to. They always go out of their way to make others around them feel better, but no one ever aks them if they are ok. No one would ever guess. Be yourself, observe those around you. If someone needs help, never turn a cold shoulder towards them. These are all things that I’ve learned. And all with the help of one art teacher that I had back as a kid. I found this in my planner from middle school over the summer:
“Today, one of the most beloved teachers at our school passed away. He was the only teacher that ever tried to talk to me about my problems and aspirations; and he inspired me even when I felt hopeless. He constantly struggled with severe health problems, but he was still one of the happiest/funniest people I knew. But he didn’t die from health complications; he committed suicide this morning. Why?”
One of the many people that helped me as I was going through struggles as a kid growing up. It’s really burned into my heart knowing that he went out of my way to set me straight. And to carry out his kindness, it’s been a personal goal of myself to carry on that legacy that he contributed to my life with. His encouragement really helped me to become the person that I am today, and his passing will not be in vain.
So I just want to thank you all for being with me for this long. I just hope that I was able to make some sort of impact on you as you all have had on me.
On Windy Days 