“I guess I could be pretty pissed off about what happened to me, but it’s hard to stay mad when there’s so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I’m seeing it all at once, and it’s too much. My heart fills up like a balloon that’s about to burst. And then I remember to relax, and stop trying to hold on to it, and then it flows through me like rain, and I can’t feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life. You have no idea what I’m talking about, I’m sure. But don’t worry. You will someday.”

This last line from American Beauty is the only way to describe how I feel right now. There’s nothing better or sweeter or more gratifying than being able to feel—if only for a few moments—how totally lucky I am to not be the person I was a year ago, a month ago, or even a week ago, but to be the person I am right now, today, and that it was my effort that I owe this new reality to. I truly have so many accomplishments and opportunities and friendships to be thankful for, and though I’m sure I’ll forget it soon enough, reminding myself that though the struggles are real, it’s also so totally and incredibly and meaningfully worth it.