Small triumphs

Hello everyone.  I'm feeling a bit better since I wrote my last post, I think because I have things to take my mind off of things, mainly small triumphs.  So far I have kept up my resolution (to draw or paint every day), it's challenging but I'm quite enjoying it because I had forgotten how expressive it can be.  I tend to curl in on myself when I don't like what's going on around me so this is doing me a lot of good emotionally I think.

Yesterday I took my measurements for the first time since I started my exercise regime two weeks previously, and I was amazed to find that I have lost about two and a half inches of body fat in total so far (2lbs).  I couldn't see much of a physical difference but I could feel it so it was a great feeling to be able to quantify it.  I've also noticed that a pair of jeans I'm wearing which used to be pretty tight are feeling slightly looser, which is further confirmation that I am toning up.  I'm really excited; my body image was really quite poor for a while so knowing that what I'm doing is paying off has given me a massive boost.

I finished reading 'The Pilgrimage' by Paulo Coelho a couple of days ago.  I love his style of writing; he always takes note of such little things that make up a life.  If you haven't read any of his work I highly recommend 'The Alchemist', which is a story about achieving one's dreams.  It's very inspiring and easy to read. :)

I was thinking about how many people there are in the world and how small it sometimes makes me feel.  Do I, in my little sphere of known people, really matter in the long run, is my life significant?  And you know something, it is, because I have the power in me to create something that could last for centuries.  The Greats probably felt tiny too.  And I may never be up to their standard, maybe none of my stories or paintings or diaries will ever become famous, but they're there, and for me, that is enough.  I have lived, I am living, I will go on in spite of everything, I will live.