ah...stress.

the past week has been full of it. stress, that is. i've been struggling with the typical feelings of not fitting in quite right, of craving the comfort that familiar faces and places provide, of the possibility of months of uneasiness and fear.

i know everyone goes through this when they leave home and strike out on their own, but knowing that doesn't necessarily make it any easier. i'm doing my best to focus on the fact that making one's own way is never easy and that, all things considered, i'm actually in pretty good shape. that this isn't like college, where you have a bunch of people in the same situation making the best of the situation and meeting new people because no one knows anyone else. that the people i meet here already have comfort zones with people, that they are familiar with the city, the routine, the lifestyle.

what's the point in doing anything if it's all going to be easy? it's the struggle that makes or breaks a person's character. sure, things are difficult at the moment and i feel a bit lost in the shuffle, without strong relationships down here to hold onto. but does that mean i'm going to give up? what, run back home and regret wasting the opportunity i've been presented with? of course not. i've had difficult times before. while the situation isn't like college, i felt the same way at the beginning of college--as if there was no way for me to leave my mark. i overcame that and i'm going to overcome this, dammit! i've never failed at anything i've tried doing--i don't intend to start now.