Funny how things never quite go the way we plan, huh? I think God does it to keep us humble. Or at least me, that is, haha. I just spend so much time thinking and planning and dreaming, and I always get my hopes up, and I'm coming to see more and more that things rarely turn out the way I envisioned.

I think a lot of that is because I'm an idealist.

....a romantic...

And I hate to think that, because I always think it makes me sound like a teenage girl for some reason, haha, but it's so true! I'm a dreamer.

I think I'm a very emotional guy, for a guy.... You know? I mean, just in general. Is that just me?? I don't know if that's even possible, haha. It seems like it, though.

So I get in these cycles of hope and despair, dreaming and living, excitement and discouragement.... Over and over. And over. Day to day. It's a real struggle for me.

And it gets so tiring.

I think my problem is that I don't live in the moment enough. I'm too busy worrying about what I just said or planning what I'm going to say next that I lose track of what I'm doing now. I don't take time to stop... to slow down and look around..... to chill..... to take a nap.... to just take life in and be thankful, you know??? And how can I expect to be joyful when I don't take the time to be thankful? Gratitude is the foundation of joy!

I really just need to learn to give it to Him. To let go. To pray. To encourage someone. To play a game. To enjoy life.

And I need people around me who will help me with that, too, you know? People who will take me aside and just talk with me, or people who will randomly invite me to play soccer or racquetball or watch a movie or take a walk. People who will slow me down -- get my mind off myself and my schedule for once... I love those people! :-D


...because for some reason, life's a little easier to handle when you're not tackling it alone. :-)