Yesterday was my start back to my day job for the first time in two weeks and it was the first day of my second to last semester of college. After job #1 and a day full of planning out every moment of my next three months in my planner, I finished off my night at job #2 serving tables. It was a really really busy day for me, and by the time my section was cut at work last night my body was screaming for bed, and when I finally got there... I fell asleep feeling SO FULFILLED and SO BLESSED.
Unfortunately, my "life is so beautiful" attitude was extremely short lived when I woke up today with a serious case of the suds (see Google: Sponge-Bob the suds, for perfect depiction of how I'm feeling today). My day at work drug on and on as I made my way through a box of tissues. Only getting worse when I had to give it my very best shot at adulting while on the phone with the insurance company trying to understand why prescriptions cost a whole arm and half of a leg. When I left job #1 to make my way home and get ready for job #2, I found myself on the couch in the most negative frame of mind absolutely dreading my night ahead of serving strangers.
And then...
I had a realization.
I thought to myself, "I had the most amazing day yesterday, so positive and so productive. Yet today has completely sucked," and I swear it was like the moment I thought it, I heard someone say... "Well duh Ken, because that's life."
Yesterday was such a great day for me because I took the time to be thankful for all that my day presented me with. Starting back to school was my reminder for how far I have come and how close I am to accomplishing one of my biggest life goals. I was thankful for a busy first day back to work because it brought me so much fulfillment and a gratitude for having a job that allows me two whole weeks off for Christmas. Last night on my way home from job #2 I began to feel extremely grateful for my serving job and how much it has helped contribute to the beautiful life my fiancé and I are creating for ourselves and for the place of financial stability it has helped us reach so that I soon will be able to hang up my apron for good.
In life you have really good days, and you have some really bad days. Sometimes you even have those days that are "just days" where you get all the way through them without even taking a second to reflect... But all of those days come together to create what is your life. Our only chance at making it a life worth living, a FULFILLED and BLESSED life, is to live like I did yesterday and not today. Find the beauty in every breath you take, even if its between coughs and through only one nostril. Accept each and every obstacle as an opportunity for life experience and self growth. Most importantly, have gratitude for each and every day, even the long ones because it is each and every yesterday that will shape your today, and every today that will come together to create your life.