Life is good

Have you ever seen those t-shirts that say "life is good" on them? I'm actually kind of tempted to buy one of those hoodies--they look so comfy, and they're so refreshingly optimistic. I doubt I will, though, since the one I want costs $70 and I'm trying to save money right now. Apparently, optimism doesn't come cheap these days.

Anyway, I saw somebody wearing one of those shirts today, and for some reason it made me think about my own life. And honestly? Life is good. I feel almost apprehensive in saying this, as though I'm somehow cursing myself (knock on wood!), but it's the truth. I've been blessed in so many ways recently that it would be practically impossible to name them all. I can mention a few, though.

One major positive in my life is that I was finally "officially" accepted into the Jerusalem Center, where I'll be going next semester. This fact has yet to sink in. Sometimes I'll be doing something completely unrelated, like walking to class or checking my Facebook, and suddenly I'll think, 'Hey, I'm going to Jerusalem!' and I won't be able to stop smiling for at least 5 minutes. Even if everything else in my life was going wrong, this one fact would probably still be enough to put me in a good mood.

Good thing #2: so there's this guy... :-)

Then, there's all the little things. The Sunflower Market, which sells pomegranates, fresh raspberries, and tahini, and has double the sales on Wednesdays. The trip I have planned to Cedar City this weekend, where I'll be able to visit some of my best friends from high school. Organ class, where I'm starting to learn how to play Bach's Fugue in G Minor (which excites me, for some reason). Playing the piano in Primary (because, for some reason, my singles ward has a Primary). The Office on Thursdays, which I watch with that one guy. Playing Rock Band II, which I also do with that one guy. David Archuleta's album coming out next month. Halloween coming up, with Thanksgiving and Christmas after that. More scholarships than I know what to do with (or at least, than I will know what to do with once Jerusalem's over). Amazing friends and a loving family. Answers to prayers.

Of course, I suppose the real challenge is to realize that life is good even when things aren't working out just right; it's all a matter of perspective. A person caught in the middle of a storm could be angry and bitter about it, or he could look for rainbows. As life goes on and bad things start to come my way again, I hope I remember that it's always a choice. Life is good not when everything in it is good, but when we see the good in everything.