until I'm grateful

I'm tired. Nay, exhausted. The past 4 months have been some of the hardest of my life. I should clarify. I've had plenty other periods of time that were hard in a bad way. Meaning I caused the difficulties myself or nothing obviously good came out of them. But as far as times that are hard in a good way, as in what people are referring to when they say they are thankful for their trials, this is has been the biggest challenge. And I think that's saying something since it's being ranked against that time I fell off a cliff.

I moved to a new city by myself where people drive like maniacs and the mugginess gives me the appearance of constantly having stepped out of a swimming pool. I started a new job with my company, without much precedent to rely on. Not only did I have to do that new job, but I had to prove that I was qualified to a group of people who were not shy about expressing their doubt in me. And each day relentlessly seems to present its own new, unique challenge. Like I said, it's exhausting.

UNTIL. Until I remember to express my gratitude to my Heavenly Father. Then I realize that what I'm going through is actually easy because he's on my side. And that my blessings far outweigh my challenges. I'm generally healthy, I have an amazing family who supports me, I have a great place to live, I have more friends already than I had when I moved, I have a fantastic ward, and plenty of food to eat and money to pay my bills. I live right next to the ocean. I work in this amazing library with some beautiful collections of books. I get free access into several of Boston's finest museums and I'm living in a place drenched with history. I live 40 minutes away from Boston, of all places (as well as Walden pond :). I have access to every hope and opportunity I could ever desire through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and through the challenges I'm facing I've already learned so much that I could not have learned otherwise.

Hey look, I guess I'm one of those people who say they are thankful for their trials after all.