Straight up and down, it's all good...

As I walked through the forest today (or crutched), during a short break in the rain that encompasses winter in Wales, I thought to myself how lucky I am to be alive. This is an interesting time in my life. I have basically nothing to my name. My soul possessions are 3 pairs of pants (trousers), 5 shirts, 5 pairs of underwear, 5 pairs of socks, an i-pod, a camera, a backpack and a few books. But I've come to realize that, as cliched as it may sound, happiness doesn't come in the form of material things. 

As I walked along, listening to one of my favorite songs that reminds me of a very good friend of mine, it began to hail and rain very hard. Someone told me recently that I need to learn to appreciate the little things in life, and I've been working hard to do that. This was one of those moments that I had to appreciate. Even though I could only move at a very slow pace, and I was getting completely soaked, I had music in my earphones, the air smelled amazing, and I knew I had a warm, dry, and loving place to go back to. 

I also know that despite all my faults, and whatever I may have done wrong in the past, I have a family that loves me, and a few good friends that truly care about me and would do just about anything for me. Not everyone has these things, and they are reasons to feel blessed. 

This isn't to say I always feel happy and content, at times I feel very in limbo. I don't have a job or much of any way to make money, I have to leave the UK by April 5th and I don't know where I'm going yet, I'm recovering from a broken leg, amongst other things, and I don't have much of a plan. But I truly believe that everything will work out. The point is to enjoy life while it is happening, not always be looking and waiting for the next big thing. Lately, especially while I was in the hospital, I have been having these overwhelming feelings that I need to do something to help people who are less fortunate than me, and once I heal, that is what I intend to do. I'm not sure yet what that will be, or where it will take me, but I know in my heart I should stay away from America for awhile, and I'm sure I will end up in the right place.

My goals for the short term are to use my creativity positively, to help people in the small ways that I can, and to nurture the friendships that I have and hopefully develop some new ones. I have never been one to surround myself with too many people, but I believe it is important to have a few good friends. 

For now, life isn't perfect, but it could be far worse, and I feel a new appreciation for the things I do have. I suppose the trick now is just to remember that...