Speaking for myself (even though I do not speak only for myself here), I often tend to ponder how unlucky and unfortunate I have been in life. Truly, this is an easy thing to do, as there are a great many ways that my life has been difficult, even apart from the many ways I have made my own life more difficult than it strictly had to be already. That said, there are ways that I (and others) can reflect on how fortunate that we have been in spite of everything. As difficult and as horrible as some experiences have been, there is always a lot to be thankful for, and ways that the bad can be turned into good, even if it tends not to be a very simple or straightforward process. As a student of divine providence, sometimes it is necessary to look at the brighter side of my own personal matters, without going into too much detail.

One of the blessings I have, and a blessing that has not been strictly by my own power or wisdom, is the simple fact that I have lived life relatively decently. All things considered, that is a minor miracle that I have somehow managed to avoid being completely frozen and unloving and also avoided the damages that I would have caused myself and others with promiscuity. Quite frankly, to be a decent and friendly and openhearted and tenderhearted young man with a sense of honor and self-respect and concern for others is an achievement that I take some comfort in. I have been greatly helped in life not only by my own decency, for which the credit does not belong to me along, but also for the kindness and decency of others, which I greatly appreciate. At times where my own quirks and weaknesses have led me into situations of grave peril (which has happened a few times), there have been others around me who were decent and who recognized my own decency and have allowed me to escape the worst consequences of my own folly.

Another thing for which I am grateful is that I have a lot of people around me who are pretty understanding and reasonably sympathetic. This has not always been the case, though in fairness I have probably not always seemed very sympathetic to others as well. Still, the ability to find wise counsel (especially in areas where my own wisdom is lacking), and having people who are patient listeners and readers (which I need a lot of) is something I greatly appreciate. Hopefully I make that appreciation known often enough so that people do not feel that it is taken for granted, for it is not something I take for granted at all. Having people to enjoy fun company with (even though I’m a busy person!) and who can provide wonderful conversation is something I greatly appreciate as well, and something I would always like more of.

Though there is a lot that could be better, having people around to bounce ideas off of, as well as people to share ideas (and books) with makes a lot of matters a lot easier to deal with. It also helps to distract me from the rather frequent loneliness I have to deal with. I have generally found that my experiences have made me a lot more understanding of where other people come from, which has saved me a great deal of anger and resentment and bitterness when where it has not relieved me of the occasional serious misunderstanding. Hopefully in time this leads to better and deeper relationships across a broad spectrum of life. Presumably, after all, at some point understanding where others are coming from better should lead to more effective and appropriate actions, even if there will always be the need for open and honest and respectful communication. So, while I ponder how to live life better, I take comfort in those areas where I have been truly blessed, for while life could certainly be a lot better, it could also be a lot worse as well. The fact that some matters are going well and others have the potential to do so is the cause for at least some cautious but grateful praise.