Slow down, and enjoy it for awhile!

First and foremost, Happy Christmas Eve! I hope everyone has had a lovely holiday thus far. Only one day until Christmas (really 30 mins 'til). Sadly, I have to work tomorrow, but that's okay because people get sick on holidays too. Though, I'm hoping to be called off and that the doctors magically discharged all the patients today--finger and toes crossed, haha. Speaking of work, it's going really well. I am 100% glad I chose nursing as a profession. It's such a gratifying career, and I would recommend it to anyone who is unsure of what they want to do with their life. I have learned so many things while working. Of course I have learn how to be a better nurse, and I'm improving my skills. But, I have also learned life lessons that have helped me be a better person as well. I abso-freakin-lutely love what I do. 

Just a little update... So much has been going on in my life that I don't even know where to start, and I don't know how I feel about it. However, I wont bore you with the depressing things. I will, on the other hand, say that I'm going back to my old ways. I'm going to be optimistic Chad because that's who I am. That's who I love to be. That's who people see me as.

Today, it hit me... I have been really bummed out about certain things that I haven't put thought into being thankful for what I do have. I know Thanksgiving is long gone, but I'm truly thankful for everything I have--friends, family, warmth, food, a good job! We open gifts tonight because I have to work tomorrow, and I got a lot of great things. However, what do these things truly mean to me? Yes, I love what I got, but they are just materialistic objects that fulfill my wants but not my needs. What if I didn't have the friends or family that I have? Life would be rather lonely and pointless if you ask me. I would give the world for the people in my life (and for the ones too far away to be in my life). I truly feel that I could go without any presents and be content because life is so precious; great people/friends/family are so rare these days.

At my sister's tonight, her husband's friend Antonio was sorta intoxicated, but said something to me that got me thinking. I was on the computer while eating pizza. He took the computer away from me and said, "Enjoy your meal. Relax. Slow down a little. You're always on the go. You talk fast. You walk fast. Slow down!" I was almost in shock, but I shut my computer anyways. I ate my pizza, and I observed life, the existence happening around me. I saw children at play. Adult interaction. I saw laughter. And excitement. And warmth. And love. I saw life. I saw all of this under one roof, in one room. I saw what's easily missed each day by a nation that's always on the go. Life, it's taken for granted. As I sat on the couch eating my pizza, I thought... Man, I'm a lucky guy to have this. I'm a lucky guy to have this family. I'm lucky to have these friends. I'm lucky to have all my friends. I'm lucky to have YOU! I'm truly lucky just to be living! This is the true meaning of Christmas. Being loved and loving! Life. Believing.

I love you!

Now that it's after midnight here in good ole Louisiana, I think it's safe to say... MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND ALL A WONDERFUL NIGHT!

"Life doesn't move too fast or slow... But because you move faster than life, you think it's going too slow... So slow down and enjoy it for awhile." -- Antonio Larkins

Also, I was bored yesterday, so I decided to do a little doodling on my computer. Meet my alter ego, Ranch (pictured to the right).

:-)