So rare is great news

I received fantastic news this week: I am epilepsy free. Obviously this news is wonderful, but it's hard for me to simply allow myself to be happy about it. There is always something that is threatening my way of life, I feel like I can't even just sit for a minute without something else needing my attention or drawing my worry. Have I simply become unable to appreciate good news when it is given to me? I am concerned for my future happiness if I cannot remember how to appreciate the good things in my life and just let the bad things happen because they can't be stopped.

A Whole New Year

It's interesting how different I feel because it's the start of a new year. I am only seven days in and everything feels fresh. The same apartment I was living in feels new. The class I started before the year started feels new. Everything has this hue to it like it's a brand new baby that I just want to hold and wonder how it will grow up. It makes me wonder: What changes so dramatically between December 31st and January 1st? I think it has a lot to do with second chances. It is my opinion that we do not give ourselves enough chances in this life. But a new year means new challenges and new opportunities to show ourselves that we can do it. Most people make a New Year's resolution or two, but I don't think that's enough. Every year since I started college I have made a list. A list of 100 things I hope to do with my year, and this year is no exception. I have things that are easy to do like go bowling and make a snowman and then stuff that I probably won't get to do such as see the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. My list reminds me that there is always more adventures to be had and more fun things to experience. It also helps me see what I want to do with my life. I probably will not make it to the Eiffel Tower this year, but I will eventually see it with my own two eyes. And best of all, my list reminds me that even small events, like bowling, can be an adventure and can be exciting. I guess the new year is so exciting because it has so much untapped potential. It gives us all a zest for life and excitement, and a hope for what this year will have in store. It's a great shame that we can't feel like this everyday, not just in the first few days or weeks of each new year.