Here comes the sun.

"If you're going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill

So you know how you have those days where everything goes wrong, one thing and after another? Your alarm doesn't go off, you spill your coffee, you leave an assignment in your room, maybe you argue with a friend or find out some devastating news. Well, its interesting how bad days can be SO bad, and the bad keeps coming.. but what is more interesting, is how good days can be so good and the good just keeps coming.

Like today, for instance. Today is my favorite day so far in March. And I'll tell you why. My brother is better, today. Not yesterday, not the day before, but today. Just like a light switch, he's back and he's better. That is the most important part of today.

My fridge is fixed. The metal plugs are out of my wall. (both, thanks to Samir from Johnson B). My assignments from the beginning of the week which made Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday a living hell.. are complete.

Also, out of all the days we've had so far this year.. today speaks Spring. Sure, we've had a few other days that were a little warmer than most.. but today is the warmest, sunniest day we've had all year. SPRING IS HERE.

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week were 3 of the worst days I've had in awhile. I didn't get sleep one night for staying up late to finish something and then experienced anxiety due to having to be up in 3 hours for desk. I can't sleep if I know I have to be up in 3 or 4 hours. The combination of being bogged down with tests, papers, and work all in the same week combined with coming off my Spring Break high and also my family worries made Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday horrible. BUT - today.. today is wonderful.

I feel in my heart this may be the beginning to better times. I feel hopeful, happy, and a little more content about the future (near future, at least). It is true though, that we never know what the future holds. So, though I have a very positive outlook, I want to focus on now. Because, I LOVE today.

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift. Thats why they call it the PRESENT." - Lil Wayne

And what better a way to celebrate today, than with St. Patricks Day? No, I'm not Irish. No, I'm not Catholic. But I will celebrate and partake in this wonderful holiday.. maybe not the way it was intended to be celebrated, but I'm celebrating the way they will at Dill tonight, and at every other bar in the country.

Today could not be better.

Like we used to.

Last night was a refreshing, fun, and and hilarious time. I spent time with my dear friends Christa Clouse, Katie Yonts, Stevie Carnes, and Malia Duty. We missed Holly and Jenni Reynolds.. or wait, Jenni Verstraeten! But had a blast nonetheless!

When we used to get hype off Monster and sugar, we now got hype off.. well, more adult beverages.

With the all the conversation, laughter, and quotes from the night.. the best part was simply being with these friends I've had since elementary and junior high school. It was like the old days in junior high with nights spent together. This makes me smile. And though we've all done different things and had new experiences, last night wasn't much different than those nights in junior high. We still had food, we still laughed, and we still enjoyed being together. It seems even as we go different ways and don't see each other as often, we still always find each other and find time to be together. And that, makes me very happy. :)

A taste of home

This afternoon, I enjoyed a wonderful lunch with my good friends Greylor and Natasha Charles. We decided to try Sitara, the new Indian cuisine restaurant in Muncie.

I couldn't help but smile when I walked in the door - it smelled like the homes of my good friends Krupa Dave, Chirag Patel, and Darshi Bosamia. This warmer weather mixed with these smells made me think of summer days spent with friends from home and days past enjoying the outdoors and then eating together. The food was lovely and such a nice treat from the monotony of campus food.

I'll definitely be eating there again.

Positive positive positive.

This month, and this week specifically, seems to be dragging people down. Way, way down in the dumps. From breakups to family issues to the weather and general daily misfortunes, the general mood from my observations is very low. For me personally, I've been enjoying myself and have been quite content minus the weather, of course. A family issue has surfaced that I won't mention on here, but it has definitely got me down this week (as it should). Seeing something bad happen to someone else is sometimes worse than experiencing something bad yourself, because you know there is nothing you can do to fix it. Not that you can always help when bad things happen to yourself either, but at least you somewhat have power within your locust of control.

So, to all who are going through something this month, whatever it may be.. just remember, the sun will shine again. This is something I believe strongly in, though I don't refer to myself as an optimist (nor do I refer to myself as a pessimist).  But I do believe things change and I do believe it gets better.

The snow will melt, the cold will cease, warmth will come into the world again. The sun will rise again. :)

I want

to live in a world where no one is sad, no one is lonely, no one grows old or gets sick, and no one knows what the word "hopeless" means. i want to live in a world where no one throws their hands up to the sky, asking why in despair. i want to live in a world where everybody has at least one person in their corner. i want to live in a world where no one leaves, ever. and i want to live in a world where loved ones are always there and will be there.. forever.

Chilly night air.

I absolutely love chilly night air.

I think its because I have so many fond memories that took place in chilly night air. When I was a kid, my cousins and I would play outside all day until the last possible minute before being told to come inside. We'd always beg for "5 more minutes" and extend our play into the chilly night air. I can still remember the smell and feel of the excitement before a marching band competition or high school football game performance, which took place in chilly night air. The beach reminds me too, due to waves bringing refreshing air to the shore. Nights in Hawaii were warm but still had a slight chill in the atmosphere. I specifically remember laying in the sand in Maui on one of the more chilly nights, looking up at the stars and recalling that I had never seen them so bright before. It was as if a giant had scooped up bursting white diamonds and threw them with great force, splattering them endlessly across the jet black sky.

I also remember almost this time last year during spring break in Panama City, FL, where all nights had chilly night air since it wasn't quite summer yet. The feel of the sand between my toes and the sound of rushing ocean waves always come to mind when I think of chilly night air. Anytime I've been to bonfires with friends that weren't in the heat of the summer were during chilly night air.

Marching band, the beach, and childhood play are some of my top memories connected to chilly night air. But there are countless others ranging from watching fireworks, going on walks with friends (especially downtown on the canal), and getting ready to go out that all revolve around chilly night air.

Right now, as I study in my room, I have my window open and my fan on low, bringing the chilly night air into my existence. With a longing for adventure and a pang to break free into the night, I know I must contain myself for now to prepare for an exam.

I am glad though, that I have the chilly night air to keep me company, whispering of adventures past and exciting things to come.

Today was just one of those days.

I simply did not feel like working out. You know those days where you can't imagine working out because you have so much to do in so little time, you're so tired, and you've taken a day or two off so you're nervous to get back into the groove.

Besides, yesterday I ate this meal:

So obviously, I had some major damage control to take care of. Like always, I summoned everything within me and made my way to the rec center. And I must say.. with the short amount of time I had and my lack of motivation, it was surprisingly one of my better workouts!

Perhaps it was talking with my friend Amanda Auron for the first 20 minutes of my workout, or maybe it was the Red Bull I had an hour before. Whatever it was, my workout was superb.

These are the things I need to remind myself on the days where I don't feel motivated. These are the things I need to remember when I'm feeling the possible is impossible. Sure, there will be days where I won't be successful. There will be days like those above where I indulge in heavenly food. But - there will be many, many days of success... whether I feel it can be accomplished or not.