Lucky duck

Have you ever thought about how lucky you are? How your biggest problem may be that you don't have a day off because you attend  a four-year university and have two jobs? I have. I had a major realization yesterday that my life is damn near perfect when I really think about it. And I don't mean that in any kind of egotistical way. I mean that in a way that you can relate to your own life.
People obviously have problems. We have issues, we have emotions, we have deep, dark thoughts; but those are things within us, which are influenced by our misconception of the things outside of us. A lot of us associate ourselves with the problems of those we are surrounded by. But are our problems really the same as those of our parents, roommates or friends? There are such things as sympathy pains, and I know I have felt them before, but the only way to make them stop is to put your situation in perspective. Externalize your pain and think about everything that YOU have, that YOU do, and then give those positive feelings to your family member or friend that is suffering. It's really quite simple, because once you realize that you are in a really good place and have everything you could ever need, such as a house by the beach, a bar on campus, a cell phone and an iPod, your "problems" will become much smaller.
My mom deals with physical pain on a daily basis, but she is the strongest, most selfless person I know. She has, in a sense, dedicated her life to my sister and me, and has provided us with everything we could ever need. I could easily associate myself with her problems and treat them as something that affects me directly, but they don't. Instead of feeling bad for her I feel love for her. I do what I can to make her feel better, which, being three hours a way from home, is simply calling her, and that is always the best part of my day.
A New Zealand magazine wrote that my dad was living the American dream because he has been married to his wife for 20-some years, has two daughters in college and made a life for himself and his family in Southern California by doing what he loves. Thinking about my parents and how they lived their lives and developed as people made me think really hard about what I have and what I am becoming and I became very, very grateful for the life they gave me, and excited about the life I have ahead of me.
What made me think about all of this? Spending a lazy Sunday in bed, listening to Fleet Foxes and snuggling with my boyfriend, who I am more than grateful for as well. I truly couldn't ask for anything more in my life right now (besides having my cat live with me again), and I want to enjoy it as long as humanly possible.