My Letter of Hope

To Whom It May Concern,

Due to social media I learned this morning that today is the "International Day of Happiness".

Who or what determines whether you're happy? I don't have that answer for you...

Realistically, happiness is a fleeting emotion. I'm not writing this letter to you to tell you to conquer your dreams or live your life to the fullest.

I'm writing this letter to tell you that I believe in you. 

You're awesome just the way you are! It's completely okay if you're having a bad day, week, or year. Just know you're never alone.

Keep being awesome,

Grant H.

New Year = New Beginnings, But Have You Changed?

This exact time a year I was spending a week in Jamaica for a service learning trip.

Two months later I spent a week a week in the Navajo Nation for a separate service learning trip.

I set out to change the world, even if it meant I could impact one person.

Midway through my trip in Arizona I began contemplating my purpose on going on all of these trips.

NO ONE would understand the poverty and malnutrition in other humans that I've witnessed.

NO ONE would understand how many times I just wanted to cry because I couldn't help families that could barely afford to put food on the table.

NO ONE would understand how guilty I felt for not being more PRESENT in my life.

NO ONE would understand that I felt more connected with strangers than I did with my own family and friends.

NO ONE would understand how the trip made me believe that I would rather live a life with nothing, than to be ignorant in wishing that I had EVERYTHING.

NO ONE would understand how much I felt LOVED on these trips.

 Ask yourself: In a years time how have you changed?

The best thing my professor told me was: "Grant, maybe you're the only person that's meant to know how much you're changing"

I've come to LOVE and ACCEPT myself more than I ever have before.

I want to 2016 to be a year that I love myself and others more than I ever have before. I want to take risks, and continue to grow.

 Just remember through our triumphs and failures to never lose yourself.

 

Sincerely,
Grant H.