I used to do this thing where I write down three things that I am thankful for each day. They could be anything, from the food I ate, to being thankful for having ears to listen to music. Theres a science to it that you are slowly training your brain to think in a positive way and see the things you have that are good rather than bad. I have stopped writing down the things I am thankful for but haven't stopped noticing things that I'm thankful for. As I was reflecting today on my time here (I'm about halfway through my trip) I started to look at my thoughts and see if they had changed. I thought about it, and I think they have a little bit but I they have been progressively changing from before this trip. This trip has shown me how much I have grown in the past couple years. I literally think positive thoughts more than half of the time (theres always room to grow:)) Especially in times that are "bad". I find myself constantly telling myself it could be worse. Like when this photo machine stole 5 euros from me I was genuinely mad but then I had to calm myself down and say, "at least I have 5 euros to lose, a lot of people don't". So many people think negative thoughts all the time and they don't even realize it. People are constantly complaining about being: too cold, too hot, too fat, too tired, can't sleep, not enough money, class being boring, whatever it is the list goes on. There's literally no point in thinking and saying all of those things because all it is doing is making you unhappy. I'm not trying to boast about myself but I think it's okay to acknowledge a growth in myself as a happier person than I was a couple years ago, not that I was ever really unhappy, but I am just enjoying my happiness more because I am consciously aware of it... and who am I kidding, no one really reads other peoples study abroad blogs anyways...
I find myself loving Italy more and more every day. There's something about how slow the lifestyle is (at least in my little town of Orvieto) I've been going to cafes by myself, getting an espresso, and just researching or doing whatever on my computer for hours and I love it. I feel like I would have no time to do this in the States. This place makes me want to do all the creative things that I say I don't have time for back home, like painting and writing. I've read like 4 books while I've been here and I although I read over summer and love reading, I never do it while at school. America is such a different way of living. Especially damn U of A. I would say I miss my friends, but not U of A, the toxic environment that it is. Like I love reading, being healthy, getting outdoors, experiencing life, and I just don't do it often enough while I'm there! I get sucked into the extremely fun but extremely bad for you party scene! But I guess this is the time in my life to do that though, so it's okay...? But is it? Probably not. But coming back for the last semester of my senior year it's not exactly time to change haha. I'll have one more bad for my body semester and then who knows what I'll be doing next... not having an office job that's for sure.
A perfect little cappuccino :)
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