Wishing

I wish I had more time. I wish I had more money. I wish I had a better computer. I wish I didn't have to do all of this school. I wish I didn't have to take finals. I wish I didn't have to worry about all the stuff society tells me to worry about. I wish I didn't have to spend hours researching and 30 extra dollars to get a product that was made ethically, something that didn't harm the earth.

I wish I didn't have grades. I wish I didn't have to go to college. I wish I could just settle in. I wish I had a bigger house. I wish I had a car. I wish I could write without struggle. I wish I could write songs.

I wish I could paint. I wish I could pull out a pen and draw something recognizable.

I wish I didn't waste so much time wishing.

I wish more people would spend more time sharing their real, honest thoughts instead of just telling me they're 'good.' I wish people would really want to know how I am when they ask. I wish I wasn't so sentimental. I wish I was still in India.

I wish I'd realized the importance of thinking, reading, and considering difficult subjects years ago.

~

I'm grateful for having all the time I have. I'm grateful for the money I have. I'm grateful to have a computer that works, that can play DVD's, that allows me to attend classes. I'm grateful to have an education that will allow me to pursue whatever career I want. I'm grateful for the opportunity to prove to my teachers that I did learn this year, that I retained information. I'm grateful that I am able to ignore what society says and figure out what I really believe on my own. I'm grateful that there are companies that provide me with the opportunity to help the earth and support something that is helping someone else.

I'm grateful for education. I'm grateful that I have the chance to continue that education. I'm grateful for spontaneity and the ability to move and experience new places. I'm grateful for the house I have - for the thousands of memories in this sound home. I'm grateful to have parents and relatives to drive me places, that they have cars. I'm grateful for the struggles and difficulties in writing that I am able to resolve and work through - they allow me to come up with ideas I couldn't just pull out of a hat. I'm grateful for those who can write music, and the fact that I can listen to it and be inspired.

I'm grateful for the trees, the greenery around me that I can look at when I need art. I'm grateful for the things and faces around me that I can look at and recognize.

I'm grateful that I can acknowledge these struggles.

I'm grateful that I have people in my life that really care, that I can share my feelings with, people who will listen. People who really want to know how I am when I ask. I'm grateful that I can look back on past memories. I'm grateful for the opportunity to live in a new place for the time that I did, and I'm grateful for the friendships I made there, and the kindness the people have, that they stay in touch.

I'm grateful that I finally realized the importance of thinking, reading, and working through difficult subjects.

Let's just switch up the mindset. Flip it, and look at what happens when you do.

Life is better.