Gratitude is hard. While there’s so much to be thankful for all around me, my mind sprints to feeling sorry for my situation first, rather than slowing down, embracing the struggle and letting it become a part of my story. The last month and a half have been tough, to say the least. And when the universe seems to be shitting on you day after day or week after week, where do you find silver linings?
Back in February, Harris got into a car accident on his way to work. Back story, his commute is an hour and half long journey through a magnificent and extremely dangerous canyon. This road is lined with white crosses that go on for miles and miles. A chilling reminder to drivers to keep it slow. He’s on this road two times a day, five days a week. Well, he ended hitting a patch of black ice, flipping, and totaling his car in the accident; however he walked away completely physically unharmed. What we feared from him taking a job in Big Sky happened but thankfully, it could have been worse.
After the accident, his only real option was to take the free bus to work. I’ve started driving him to the bus stop at 6 a.m., then picking him up at 5 p.m. This alone was tough, but we’ve made it work. Not long after, the car I was getting around in stopped working. So at this point, both of us have work commitments and no way of getting around.
Back in February, Harris got into a car accident on his way to work. Back story, his commute is an hour and half long journey through a magnificent and extremely dangerous canyon. This road is lined with white crosses that go on for miles and miles. A chilling reminder to drivers to keep it slow. He’s on this road two times a day, five days a week. Well, he ended hitting a patch of black ice, flipping, and totaling his car in the accident; however he walked away completely physically unharmed. What we feared from him taking a job in Big Sky happened but thankfully, it could have been worse.
After the accident, his only real option was to take the free bus to work. I’ve started driving him to the bus stop at 6 a.m., then picking him up at 5 p.m. This alone was tough, but we’ve made it work. Not long after, the car I was getting around in stopped working. So at this point, both of us have work commitments and no way of getting around.
What do we do? We Uber and bus, and rent a car. By the way, Uber in Bozeman isn't cheap, even if you’re just heading five miles away expect to pay $15 minimum. So things obviously start piling up, and life just got tougher and our attitudes toward this experience was anything but optimistic, for awhile. Our experience of moving out here and following our dreams was tainted by just a shitstorm of bad luck.
But when the universe is clearly yelling at you, you have to start listening.
So, how do I keep going? I start noticing the things around me that make life so damn beautiful. Things like getting to wake up 20 minutes later, not killing my plants, a fridge and pantry full of food, unconditional friendships, hour-long phone calls, etc.
And then, suddenly i’m not thinking about how hard ‘adulting’ is, I’m just living. I'm grateful for the major things too. The fact that Harris is alive, that we both have jobs, and a crazy awesome support system in Bozeman and all across the freaking country. We couldn’t be luckier.
But when the universe is clearly yelling at you, you have to start listening.
So, how do I keep going? I start noticing the things around me that make life so damn beautiful. Things like getting to wake up 20 minutes later, not killing my plants, a fridge and pantry full of food, unconditional friendships, hour-long phone calls, etc.
And then, suddenly i’m not thinking about how hard ‘adulting’ is, I’m just living. I'm grateful for the major things too. The fact that Harris is alive, that we both have jobs, and a crazy awesome support system in Bozeman and all across the freaking country. We couldn’t be luckier.
I truly think we've all been through the dark with at least one thing that's pushed us to our limits, and then some. Those are the moments and experiences that truly show us the resilience that lies in each and every one of us.
So keep your head up, kids. It does get better.
As for me and Harold, we’re still figuring our way out of this whole mess. But we spent the month of March focusing on all of the good, and there is soooo much good.
I mean come on....
I started working at an outdoor magazine, something I've dreamt of for so long.
I ran my very first 10k after months of on and off training (thanks to this insane winter!).
I got to see my family for the first time in months when they got to come to Montana for the first time ever!
I’ve struggled to write about this, because despite trying to not sound like a whiny, the-world-is-against-me 23-year-old, I know everyone has a struggle. But it’s so nice knowing that you’re not alone in the thick of all of it. Below are some favorite captured moments that have made me smile over the course of the roughest month and a half of our lives...
P.s: Don’t worry, we’re getting a car soon :)
P.s: Don’t worry, we’re getting a car soon :)
