January 2, 2010

Today, overall, was an enjoyable day. There were moments when I believed the stress was getting to intense, and in those moments, I could tell they were effecting Ellie as well. So today, I am grateful for two things.

The first being Ellie. Of course I'm grateful God gave her to me so willingly, but there are moments of clarity that she brings to my life like no one else can. Without her I would never have known my own patience and tolerance levels. She gives me opportunity after opportunity to show her the way to behave and handle situations, and mimicks everything I do. I know when things need to change in my own behavior because I observe her! She is the best mirror anyone can ask for. She doesn't show you the physical attributes that you tend to get caught up on, but your inner person. Your character. I listen to the way she says things. I watch how she treats the animals. I amuse myself with her goofy tendencies. I don't always like the things I'm observing, but the only person I can be angry with is myself, and I'm also the only one who can change anything. She is exactly what I needed to become a better person!

The other thing that I'm grateful, although a little confused, is a letter I recieved today from a grade school friend. He's very hard on his luck right now, and even when things are hard, he still took the time the write me a letter. The events that he wrote about confuse my emotions, but nonetheless, recieving a letter in the mail is always going to make my day. It lets you know that someone was really thinking about. Granted, in the day and age of email and texting, you can very easily tell someone you're thinking about them with various e-cards, template texts (that you don't even have to type), or a quick forwarded joke to make them smile. But. to take out minutes upon minutes of your day to hand write a letter speaks volumes about the amount that you thought about the recieving person. Contemplating every sentence before writing it permanently on a sheet of paper. Thinking about the sighs of contentment as they open and read the letter. I do wish more people would take the time to write. Its becoming a lost art form and by this one simple letter, I remember the joy I get in writing and sending letters to far distant friends. A simple hello can make all the difference and his letter helped to lift my spirits today when I was stressing out over something minute.

Tomorrow a letter will be written to hopefully give my friend his own form of contentment. Tomorrow I will think twice before acting and speaking out in front of Ellie. Today is done, tomorrow is another one...

Good night.