Too much information?

365 days to a year. It's interesting to think that in such a short amount of time, you're whole world can change. If I thought about that in dollar terms, I make more then a year of cash in one week. It's a small number when thought of as a whole. But separately we dread the things that take longer then a few days. Like losing weight, or earning money, even dating. Our society has a huge demand for NOW.. this instant. When did we stop enjoying the process of life and how things evolve with time? We're so used to instant gratification, whether its through a text message or email or some other ridiculously fast way of getting what you want when you want it, that we forget to enjoy the little things. Back in the "old day", if you didn't have an answer machine, you didn't even know who called you.

The past couple of weeks I've proven this exact theory. When I don't get what I want instantly, I tend to get flustered and aggravated. I wish I could be patient. A great example. I texted a friend recently asking what their address was. I didn't even need it right then and there but was aggravated when it took them almost an hour to respond. I need to take a step back and be patient. Not only does this NOT grow in my family but if I'm anything like my father, I soon won't be able to stand in a grocery line for more than 3 minutes without getting instantly annoyed.

I recently got into a fight. When I say fight, I mean like an actual physical fight. What was a perfect night turned into horror when 3 people I care about and myself all were hurt pretty badly by some bad people. The whole experience was surreal and I beg anyone who is in a place they don't know, with people they don't know, please be smart and walk away at confrontation. We were extremely fortunate and I'm thankful that there were no serious injuries. I can't get it out of my head though. Seeing my best friend get kicked continuously in the face, the guy I care about getting thrown against a car, a new friend being chased through a parking garage, getting kicked in the chest myself. Every minute of it I picture. I'm thankful it's over and I'm ready to move on from it but I decided to take an even bigger lesson from it. Life's too short to not tell the people you love, that you love them. Life's too short to not take that chance for love, for happiness. Life is too short to not recognize the good in your life and embrace it.

So this is my opportunity to start appreciating my life. I don't want to be scared anymore. I don't want to hold things inside because I'm scared of the outcome. Is that naive? Is it immature or childish to think that way? I've grown up thinking that guarding yourself was the only real way to ensure that you'd get out happy in life but maybe thats wrong. Maybe happiness is about falling, scrapping your knees here and there.

You never know you're true strength until it's all you've got. Faith, love, happiness, life, laughter. How do they all connect? Do you need one to have the other? Or is a mixture of a little bit of all? Guess I'll have to wait and see.

MW