I guess I need a new checklist...

It recently (and by recently, I mean last night) came to my attention that a former friend of mine will most likely be engaged very soon. This former friend and I parted ways several months ago as a result of rampant emotional abuse on her part. Since calling it quits on our friendship, I've noticed that her life actually seems to be going remarkably well (from an outside point of view, at least). I guess you always figure that the crazy person will be the one whose imperfections will eventually lead them down the road of misery, but she seems to have everything that I've had on my "Tangible Requirements for Ultimate Happiness" checklist. This includes, basically, a dream job, a boyfriend, and not living in my parents' house, all of which this former friend of mine has attained.

I started out by being a little bitter, but eventually I got to the point where I realized that even though I don't have all the things on my crazy little checklist, I'm actually really happy right now. On paper, my life seems like it would be really sad: I'm a college graduate stuck in the same job I've worked all through college, I'm as single as the day I was born, and, due to my financial situation, I'm back to bunking at my parents'. But there are so many other things I have that make me happy. I have a lot of really great friends that accept me for who I am and encourage me to be a better person without using harsh words or rolling eyes. I have a family that loves me and supports me. I have the gospel of Jesus Christ, which gives me an eternal perspective. I have a recommend to enter the house of the Lord, which has been such a blessing in my life.

So, no, I don't have anything on the ol' checklist. I guess maybe I should concentrate on checking off things that I have now, rather than torturing myself over the things that I don't have. I know that I need to work on getting those things, but I also need to consider the Lord's timeline, and that He knows when the best time will be for me to get the things that I want, provided they're even the things that I need.

I'm suddenly reminded of a song from Michael McLean's "The Forgotten Carols" which I absolutely love. I can't seem to find this particular song on YouTube, and Google can't seem to find the official lyrics (I'm wondering if this song was added later to the stage version, and therefore isn't on the original album), so here are some of the lyrics as I remember them (sorry if they're not quite right):

All I ever wanted,
All I ever dreamed of,
Everything I hoped,
And all the things I prayed for
Couldn't hold a candle
To what I've been given.
I've been given what I need.

I love love love that song. The whole thing is just beautiful and I so wish I could have found it for you all to listen to, or at least read. Oh, well.

So there it is.