If You're Happy and You Know it... Then Show It

Sometimes I have a hard time making it through the day. Sometimes I’m exhausted and moody and angry because I don't have the time or money or will power to do all the things I want to do. But deep down I know it's all in my head and I just make way too much something out of nothing. I realize that so much more today.


There is a girl, whose name I will not say because she has no idea I'm writing about her, who experienced a terrible car accident in 2005. I remember seeing her face on glass jar in a gas station one day that year. It was a donation jar for her medical expenses. I didn't know it at the time but she had terrible burns that must have covered well over 70 percent of her body. She lost most of one arm and the other arm was deformed so that she didn't really have function of her hand. Her face burned also. She's no longer able to grow hair. I was best friends with this girl in elementary school. I remember thinking how terrible it was and I remember feeling sad for her but I didn't think much of it after that, and like I said I didn't realize how bad it was at the time. I was no longer connected with her and I didn't know how to reach out so I just prayed for her.


I ran across her Facebook a couple of days ago. All of her information was public. I could see pictures of what she looked like before the accident and pictures of what she looks like now. There were videos of her painful stay in the hospital and the first time she started to walk again. It's the most painful thing I've ever seen with my eyes. Not because of the way she looks now but because of all the emotional pain I could only imagine her family and friends must of felt. It's overwhelming. It's not believable.


It doesn't seem fair. But I thought what if that were me? If I'm strong enough to survive and continue with my life like she has I wouldn't want your pity. But she is amazing. In every picture she is smiling and surrounded by people who love her. She's always leaving these inspirational quotes about how we can overcome anything if we want to. I can't think of anything worse that could happen to a person. I can't think of a better outcome.


So let me ask you this. What excuse do I have? What excuse do any of us have to feel sorry for ourselves? I know I can't feel happy and perfect all of the time because I'm human but most of my emotions are felt over things I can't even control or things that won't last forever. And the things that I can control I need to just realize that I am in control whether I use it or not, instead of just feeling helpless.


So to the girl who I was best friends with in elementary school: You are amazing. You are beautiful. You are a real life miracle and I always want to be as happy as you look now.

Happy May

Happy May 4th. Tomorrow is my birthday and I'm thankful to be alive and healthy for another year. I'm mostly thankful for my beautiful family that makes it all worth living for. Aren't we the cutest bunch of nerds you've ever seen?