Today I awoke with new understanding. As I thought of the tasks awaiting me tomorrow and the day after, I wondered how I could ever have enough time to consider today's events. Then what Jesus Christ said in Matthew 6:34 came to mind, "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." (KJV) Here Christ reminds us that each day teems with nuisances, and why should we exaggerate it by agonizing over tomorrow's maybes? Every day is special. Every day is unique in history. And every day awakens a new person that you won't ever see again. So good morning! And count your blessings!

This "morning", I woke up at about 10:30am. I spent my entire night cooking some rigatoni pasta with marinated fried shrimp. Mmmm. Why bother? Because while I may not be a chef, I do enjoy the time spent cooking. I started prepping the stove & oven, and sorting all my groceries at around 9pm. I finished cooking and cleaning at almost midnight. Yesterday was so awesome, the weather was perfect the whole day and I had a great time cooking and dancing to my tunes. This morning, however, is not going well! Not only am I tired and aching, but I ate four Twix bars & four sticks of chewing gum as soon as I woke. Why did I do that? Believe me, my common sense says to eat healthy. But I have an ongoing fued with my sweet tooth, and today it won. Two hours later, I am paying the price. Ow my head hurrrrrts. =-( Update: incredible back pain. am i diabetic?

I woke up this morning to the scent of clean air. I woke up to Georgia rain patting my face with water straight from the heavens. I dawned my shorts and tshirt with joy at the thought of jogging before the sun awoke. The paved road rested as I stretched, not at all like the dusty streets of my former abode. My legs leapt before I could gather rhythm. Why wait any longer? Let the damn cramps come. Let these feet grow sore. Let these lungs gasp for air. Let these pores unleash those first stinging drops of sweat. Bring it! I don't need to be disabled to appreciate this. Dark green trees lined the road and bent over the edge to witness this happy soldier run his ass off. What a wonderful way to start the day! It was the Starbucks store later today that made me feel like Dorothy waking up in Oz. Only two weeks ago, I held an MP5 just ready for whatever. Only two weeks ago, I couldn't communicate with people unless I had a translator. Only two weeks ago, I rode in upamored vehicles looking for suspicious Corollas. Now people stop at traffic lights, and I'm even told to put my seat belt on before the police pull us over. Police? What? Really? Wow! lol. I wish the very best to all my fellow soldiers, airmen/airwomen, marines, seamen/seawomen. Even if I don't know you personally, I really do miss you and support you. Thanks for what you're doing.

Today is Saturday. It is 11:30 a.m., and I am still in bed. These are the moments I enjoy. While the world still moves on with their economies, and councils, and summits, I lie down and listen to birds sing. I don't understand them, but I still listen as if I do. And in the meantime, I think of nothing else. The sun caresses my cheek through the curtains, and the sheets that cover me hold me dear. I don't want to get up, I say to myself. But I know I will. It is for no other reason than the truth that this will not last. My limbs will ache to move, my thoughts will seek a task. So I want to remember this serenity we all experience every so often, as my eyes glance to the door and my legs walk eagerly to it.

Dear Stranger,

I understand what you are feeling. It's crept up on you, just as it's crept up on me. We can not afford to be on guard every single hour of the day, it's no more than an existence we have to deal with sometimes. Emptiness. It is not negative nor positive, but can be either depending on your choices. It affects people in different ways; unfortunately, some people misunderstand what they are feeling and harm themselves as a result. When it began happening to me, I was motivated to search for whatever seemed to be missing. Although I found what I have been searching for, I still feel void every once in a while. It's not meant to be a downer. It just means that there's still more. There's always more. If you begin feeling this way, it's time for you to begin searching just as I did. Your self-inquiry may lead you to a hidden passion, a life-changing interest, or a state of mind you never thought attainable. My most important advice for you is to write. Write your thoughts. And don't censor any of them! Write what you feel without restraint, and become conscious of particular beliefs and opinions you've unknowingly suppressed. It continues to work for me, so I encourage you to try it. Take care!

-Fellow Stranger