HOME!

I'm on spring break this week. It's incredible...I honestly think spring break may be the best timed of any school vacation. It seems like everyone was really ready for it--this Friday at William & Mary was a happy place to be. I was no exception, and was very excited to drive myself and my friend home before I left the next day to come to STL. The car ride was highly exciting, because we were both in really good moods, and I was highly caffeinated (Diet Coke & coffee both within an hour). I also spent almost all of Friday listening to O.A.R., including the song "I Feel Home", which pretty much describes how I feel about my family and about Richmond in general. I got to live the song when I went out for pizza with two of my best friends Friday night...it's always incredible to be home.

Saturday morning my grandma and I woke up at 4:30 to drive to the airport, which was worth it as soon as I got home, before my brothers had even woken up. Being at home is great for a number of reasons: I don't feel the need to constantly use hand sanitizer and Lysol everything, my mom's cooking...even being able to get a drink of water from the kitchen in the morning.

Being home is a unique phenomenon. There's really no substitute for it. But moving halfway across the country has taught me that it's really not being the same place you grew up. There's no doubt, familiar places and people are really important, and really fun. But what's really important is being with your family. A place isn't "home". People are.

"Staple it together and call it bad weather"

I read the song lyrics that comprise today's title on my friend's AIM profile a couple of years ago, right when I started listening to Jack Johnson. This line shows one of the things I love most about his lyrics, which is that they encourage people to think about the big picture, get over the bad stuff, and get on with life. I've been thinking a lot about that idea lately: as my favorite high school history teacher told us over and over again, "I've got bigger fish to fry."

I'll be the first person to tell you that I am a whiner. There's no way to put it nicely-- I have no pain tolerance, I'm kind of needy, and I let people know it when I don't feel good. But a couple of weeks ago, when I found out I had mono, my best friend surprised me with some really good-albeit harsh- advice. As soon as I told him about my latest issue, he very quickly informed me that I should try to keep it a secret. "Don't whine to other people. They don't care, and it will really only make them feel bad too."

I was a little taken aback by his instructions, and especially that they had been his first reaction, rather than to say he was sorry I was sick. However, after thinking about it a little bit, I realized he was right. Since then, I've been trying really hard not to whine. I do occasionally indulge myself...okay maybe every time I talk to my mom...but with other people I've tried to be positive. And I'm pretty sure it really does make everything a lot better.

So. Take a lesson from country singers and jam bands everywhere, and don't sweat the small stuff.
It might actually make you a happier person.