In the spirit of trying to be content, even happy, with my current situation, I’m going to count my blessings, so to speak, and write down things that come to mind that bring me joy.

Various beverages come to mind as I’m sipping one now: I love coffee, hot and cold, and tea, green and black, and I have plenty of both.

I love my hour or so in the morning when the light is kind and all is quiet and I can eat and drink things I like and take some time before the potential of the day becomes reality.

I love my silly TV shows; I’m not ashamed, they bring me joy.

I love having beautiful books to read and to write in, and beautiful thoughts from and for them.

I love coffee shops and the people I see in them.

I love the calm not before but after a storm when all the work is done and there’s no guilt in taking time for idleness.

I love sunny days and pleasant temperatures, but I also love rain and the feeling it gives to the day.

I love nature and the escape into it.

I love seeking out the beautiful in every day and taking photos and trying to notice and appreciate everything around me.

I love having things to look forward to, long-term and short, like a relaxing weekend or a holiday break.

I love when hard work pays and exams come back with A’s on them.

I love good music and finding new good music and good movies and finding new good movies and good books and finding new good books.

I love memories, even though they sometimes make me sad.

I love the prospect of my future—even though it’s scary—because it’s so incredibly wide open.

I love writing, even though I never have anything worthy to write.

I love finding new places, new shops or cafes, or new nooks to retreat to when I need to or just have the opportunity.

I love my family, which is easier to do since I’m not with them.

I love eating, I really do, despite the angst it causes.

I love solitude, so blessedly easy to come by.

I love science, exciting and compelling.

I love literature and poetry, emotional and inspiring.

I love thinking of things I love, it helps.

Hi guys. So this last week has been a rough one for no other reason than that I’ve been unusually and acutely unhappy. It started when I got back to school last Monday after three weeks at home and felt just unbelievably distraught with homesickness. It surprised me more than anyone. And it didn’t really fade as expected once classes started. In every spare moment this misery just sort of washed over me and it ceased to be just homesickness and felt more like a deep-seated discontent with my circumstances in general.

My state of mind is slightly better today, but I’m still drawn down into that misery at unexpected, unoccupied moments. I don’t want to live in a state in which constant distraction is necessary just to keep my from drowning in my own head.

Needless to say, tumblr seems like the absolute least important thing when I feel like this, and I can only return to it with any level of interest whatsoever when I manage to get my head above water for a breath, which is right now. I’m not usually a constantly miserable person so I can’t see this odd period lasting too long, or at least I hope to god it doesn’t because if so I’ll be in real trouble. I guess I’m just saying don’t worry about me, if there’s anyone out there who actually might, because I bet I’ll feel better soon. I have no doubt school will soon occupy practically every waking moment and allow me no time in which to wallow in self-pity.