At times the world may seem an unfriendly and sinister place

But believe us when we say that there is much more g o o d in it than b.a.d.;

All you have to do is lOOk hard enough

And what may )seem( to be a series of unfortunate events may in fact be the <first steps> of a .j.o.u.r.n.e.y.

------Mr. and Mrs. Beudelaire, A Series of Unfortunate Events

***

life never ceases in surprising even the most wise or experienced of all of us.  Unfortunate things happen all of the time; to me, to you, to people living in Juarez, Mexico, where I was fortunate enough to build a house for people less fortunate than me and many of my close friends.

unfortunate things happen to countries--planes smash into buildings, hurricanes rip cities from the ground, war rips families apart. Life, in a sense, ruins lives.

many unfortunate things have happened to people who did not deserve them in the least.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt was crippled with polio. However, we were fortunate that he was the President of the United States in a time when the nation needed, above all things, a savior. He remains one of the most respected men in America.

Hellen Keller was blind and deaf, yet still is one of the most respected women of our time.

Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles are both blind, but find solace, fortunately for all of us, in their playing and composing of amazing music.

Even the Mexican family in Juarez, living in a pallet house with a dirt floor and no bathroom, is fortunate. They are <blessed> with the bond of family, and of love, 2 of the strongest bonds of all.

Everywhere we turn, there are dark days to be found and dim paths to follow.

But look around in the dark. Because whether you know it or not, there is a light for you somewhere, no matter how long or hard you have to look for it.

And, although you may think yourself highly unfortunate to have to do something, whether it be stay up late to do homework, or move away from home, or rebuild after a hurricane...

all of us, really, are more fortunate than we will ever realize.

i just thought id re-post this...its how ive been feeling lately.

love.