Green.
11, 24, 32, 36.
Yellow.
Slow down.
29, 21, 8, 0.
Red.
Stop.

As I sat in my car on my way home from class tonight, my mind began to wander in hopes that my frustration and impatience wouldn’t translate into ferocious road rage. I looked around and started observing things I never really seemed to notice on my way home each night.
Dented street sign, different shades of green in the stoplight, and just how horrendously expensive gasoline is at the corner station.
Just little details.
And I began looking around and glanced over at the people in the cars surrounding me.
A man tugging to loosen his tie, a child resting his head on the seat belt as he falls asleep, a couple sitting in utter silence and staring straight at absolutely nothing at all.
And I looked away and gazed at the traffic jam ahead of me.
And I realized something.
I’ve grown up quite a bit over the course of a few years.
And I laughed to myself, not because of the sporadically deep monologues my mind ensues, but because it took a traffic jam to make me realize how much I’ve grown physically, mentally, and emotionally.
I laughed at how everything I once feared has now become second nature, how I preach to others to never let little things affect their lives and yet, I seldom followed my own advice.
It amazes me how many times I thought I’d hit rock bottom and it saddens me how jaded I had become, and how many times I’ve felt my life was falling apart and I was unable to pick up the pieces.
I’m still struggling to get things together, but I’m trying. I’m always trying.
And as I thought of all those all those dark times, I couldn’t help but think of the little rays of light that helped me through it all, and still continue to shine for me.
I have these people in my life, these amazing people and sometimes I feel like I don’t even deserve an ounce of the love they give to me.
I’ve got my family, whom I’d die for. I’ve got these two best friends that I love with all my heart and have always stuck by me no matter what; and now, another person who fills me with so much happiness, optimism, and always gives me something to look forward to.
And I keep meeting new, wonderful, beautiful people who continue to bring some light into my life, one way or another.

I don’t think they realize what they really mean to me, not a single clue.