I was in a terrible mood today.

I’ve been working a lot and things have been crazy, so I have allowed my room to become the mess that it is.
Living in a cluttered, unorganized living space drives me CRAZY.
Cleaning my room this morning I was getting frustrated, sweating, and feeling overwhelmed.
My face has been clear for months now, but recently I’ve been breaking out.
My lips have been acting up again: swelling, dry and irritated. Complete with the red rim around the lips which looks like I just chugged a pitcher of red Kool-Aid.
I’m a hot mess, I haven’t worked out in weeks.
I’m going to Vegas for my sister’s birthday this weekend and I am far from feeling confident in myself.
I have a lot of errands to run in the next couple days, and hardly any time to do it.
I have to drive to Los Angeles late tonight after I’m off of work at 10.  I have a dentist appointment early tomorrow there, but I have to drive back to San Diego immediately after to pick up my friend from the airport here.
Then I have to drive back to LA Thursday night.
I’m sick of driving, I’m exhausted.  I’m over everything.

Then I get an email from my friend Jose.  He is in Africa currently, specifically the capital of Burkina Faso, for Peace Corp. training.  This is what it read:

Right now im in a hotel in the capital. We’re going to visit our actual sites this week. The place where we will be for two years. I’m in training right now at a smaller village but in September I will be relocated.

I would rather not talk about the food here. Just be thankful that you have more than three choices for food in the U.S. haha. It’s actually fine but I tend to think to myself, I want a California burrito. Then I think, in 2013 I will have one.

There are huts here but I live in a brick room with a tin roof. Bucket baths are a must but the stars are really bright here, so bathing outside is growing on me. Going to the bathroom into a hole outside is interesting. Especially during the rain. But everything here is great. Thanks so much for writing.

And then I think about all the things that were causing my so-called day’s frustrations, and I feel pathetic.  As I should.  It’s a beautiful, sunny day here in San Diego.  Perfect beach weather.  I am in good health, I have more than enough food here to eat at my disposal, whenever I want.  I have CLEAN WATER TO DRINK.  I have shoes on my feet.  Clothes on my back.  Plus a closet full.  I can take warm showers whenever I want.  I have an air conditioned house.  I am in a position to work and make a decent amount of money.

Clearly, I have no reason to be frustrated, but every reason to feel blessed.  And next time I feel like I’m having a bad day, I need to remind myself of this.