Perspective Is A Game Changer

​What an awesome weekend I just had.... time was spent with family, we went to a friend's wedding and I got the chance to take some family photos for a good friend.  For most people, this is probably an average weekend.  Two years ago this weekend would have still been nice, but I wouldn't have thought much more of it than that... just a nice weekend.  Honestly, I probably would have had a negative thought or two run through my head like having to drive a little bit to get where I needed to be, having to coordinate our schedules, and not having anything to wear as I dig through the dresses upon dresses that I just never "feel like wearing"  We tend to do things like that-- when we have fun, happy things to do and attend we still find some negative in the situation.  If you don't ever do that, then you're Super Human and I should probably spend more time with you!  


This weekend, though, this time around.. it was different.  I am different.  What's the difference? Well, before I lived close to home, I lived close to my family and I could see them any chance I wanted to.  Then, we moved away... far away.  We couldn't see our family any time we wanted to, we couldn't just hop in the car and make it to the family Happy Hour, we couldn't go spend a Saturday afternoon watcing a football with some of the people we love most, and we couldn't just have a fun night at our friend's wedding without buying a plane ticket and getting a hotel.  When the simplicity is gone, it's then that you realize and appreciate just how wonderful it is.  Friday, as I drove up the driveway to my parents house I got some goosebumps as I realized where I was at, and how quickly it took for me to get there.  It's not a big production anymore, I don't have to spend 12 hours in the car to give my mom a hug, or spend at least $500 to come home to celebrate a friend's marriage.  We're just here, we're close, and we're happy.  


Sometimes it takes taking a step back and looking in from the outside to realize the blessings you already have. While I wouldn't have traded our time away for anything as it helped us grow, learn and appreciate.  It introduced us to forever friends that we would have never otherwise met, and
 
created a bond with that is like no other. With all that said though, I'm not so sure I could be sold on distancing myself that far again.  It's those little things you miss out on that become the big things you appreciate.

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