At the Risk of Redundancy...

How many times can I gush about how beautiful life is? It is weeks like these where I can truly realize how far I have come and how much I have grown. I'm now a week out from finals week - and I can honestly say I have never felt so calm, so optimistic, about completing a semester. I feel prepared and accepting of whatever is going to come. I'm not stressed, I'm not worrying, I'm just ready.

I'm going to count all the wonderful things that have happened this week:
-I turned in my last paper of the semester! Woo!
-I ran 3.65 miles STRAIGHT with my best friend, a new personal record.
-I went to kindergarten. 'Nuff said.
-My bestie is coming home in 14 days and I'm picking him up from the airport...favorite LAX trip ever.
-I received an email from a former college English professor asking me if I would please be a part of his upper division English class, because he remembered me being a stand-out in his entry-level English class. Unfortunately, I had to decline because I'm cramped on credits, but it was still quite a compliment.
-Photo shoot adventure with best friend! Super old fire engine parked up on the hill above campus. It was fun to be silly, but also to actually try and get some good pictures for once. I'm happy with how they came out...I'm happy with myself as I am, for once.
-I've gotten really good reviews from all the lifeguards I manage. :)
-I'm seeing huge improvements in my swimmers.
-I spent yesterday afternoon listening to Christmas music and putting lights up around our dorm! I'm determined for it to feel like Christmas this year.
-I've laughed every day.

With things like that happening, what's not to love? Really. The way I've felt recently...it's just indescribable. And I hope it never goes away. I like where I'm at. I am so blessed.

I am missing blogging. Often times things happen and my brain gets going and I think, "Man, I really want to sit down and write about this!" But by the time I even get an opportunity, the thought is long gone and not as persistent in my mind. That's the true sign that it really is the end of the semester - I may feel calm, but life itself is not calm at all! Oh well. I'll be home in 13 days with nothing required of me, I'll have lots of time. :)