Happy Birthday John!

Today, December 3rd, is a really good friend's birthday. So I want to start out by saying Happy Birthday to John Cole. John is the kind of friend everyone needs to have - he's really smart, but is so laid back about it. He's also always been there for me when I needed a good friend. I know that he and his family are moving to Michigan in January and that makes me sad, but I know they won't be gone for long and will return to Texas as soon as they possibly can (because really, who wouldn't?!?). So, it's crunch time and I really need to start studying for my final in advanced theories. I think it's going to be difficult. Hopefully, my stats exam won't be that hard - I think it should matter that my professor and I pledged the same fraternity - I shouldn't have to take the test. It gets to me that I put so much emphasis on grades. Carl Rogers would say that because of an environment of conditional positive regard by significant others, I put conditions of worth upon myself. It's not others' conditional worth of me, but my own conditional worth of me that causes despair. Ain't that the truth! The sad thing is that those conditions of worth are so meaningless. Finding success, being intelligent, gaining pleasure, etc. They're all a big nothing in the big picture. What's the big picture? I think it's so big, I can't even begin to understand it. But the struggle I face daily is that even though things are bigger than me and much more complex and I know these "earthly" things are meaningless, I still strive for meaning because I am human. I really think I can bring meaning to my life. Am I cocky or what? Really, it makes me laugh - and I'm sure it makes God laugh too. Alright, enough jabbering. Hope all who are reading are doing well. Later.