Time is fleeting so make the most of it. Life is hard, but you will never face an obstacle that you can't tackle. There is always someone stronger than you so never shy away from asking for help. These are a few concepts that have become more real to me in these past two months than ever before. 

I have had the opportunity to take an active role in assisting my grandfather over the past two months or so with some health issues. During this time I have had a lot of time to think about what life is about and what makes it valuable. The conclusion I came to is that the things that make life truly fulfilling are the relationships you make along the way. Some may be short and some may last a lifetime, but they each have an impact on who you are and help you become the person you want to be. Over the past year the relationships that I nourished have made me a better person and the ones that fell away may have been for the best, although I hope our paths cross again someday. 

Hardship is another concept I have begun to grasp in the light of recent events. Hardship is hard (surprising I know), but it also shapes you to become a better version of yourself than you were before. I have a friend, who I won't name for their own privacy, who has been struggling with online bullying for a long time now. And it is terrible that they have to endure that hardship, however that experience has helped them grow tremendously in so many areas. They have grown in their faith, and they are a much stronger person because of it. I hope they do not have to endure it much longer, but I am certain they will defeat it because they have people to help. When it gets too difficult they are not afraid to look for help, and that has shown me that it takes a truly strong person to admit their own weakness. A man who shows no weakness is weak, but someone who can admit they don't have all the answers and that they have flaws is indeed strong. And only the strongest people can tell you their shortcomings without shame and ask for help to overcome those shortcomings. 

To conclude the past few months have been very enlightening, and they have helped me to recognize my own faults and overcome my pride. I am looking forward to what God has in store to reveal to me in the coming years, but for now I'm signing off.