Dog daze

July was a month of setbacks and obstacles in a lot of ways - not great for a birth-month, but that couldn't exactly be helped. The loss of a lot of time for the pursuit a lot of important things (some career-oriented, some interpersonal, and plenty of development) has certainly been an issue, though that'll be over once I'm done playing tour guide (very soon). And most other issues have stemmed from that, though there have been plenty of external factors contributing, as well. I'm definitely glad to have the month behind me. August should be a breeze, comparatively (ideally some kind of time of super-fulfilling growth and et cetera). 

It's not entirely a time of negatives, and I certainly don't want to give that impression. Politics is a tough thing to be interested in these days. Or, at least, if one wants to stay in a good mood. But having cast a wider net and gone into various kinds of policy in more depth, I feel more comfortable with my own views, which is comforting to see. Having seen the trees, I can better appreciate the forest, so to speak. 

And, of course, there's the fact that I'm getting to spend time with family members that I haven't seen in over a decade (or ever before). That's something I definitely appreciate, especially given that circumstances have kept me from visiting the vast majority of my extended family across the Atlantic since I was a mere child. 

While I don't like the idea of counting my blessings, I sure am working on actively appreciating them more.