Surroundings

  I have been doing a very poor job of keeping up with my blogging lately, but I'm hoping to change that.  I'm wanting to get right to the point in this post, and that is that the people we surround ourselves with day to day have a huge influence on us.  I head a story recently about a husband and wife that went on a lovely mountain hike.  They had decided that they would picnic at the peak of their hike.  When they reached the picnic spot, the husband pulled several pieces of chicken out of the picnic basket.  He passed half to his wife, and began to eat his half.  He found the chicken to be the best chicken he had ever made, and he asked his wife if she felt the same.  She replied, "Yes, this chicken is delicious.  I'm thinking, however, that you bought marinated chicken instead of plain chicken, which is why it tastes so good."  The husband, now slightly embarrassed, recalled that he had in fact purchased marinated chicken, and that it was not just his cooking skills that had made the chicken taste so delectable.
  In this story, we are the chicken.  Our friends, neighbors, family, and social media are the "marinade".  If we decide to surround our selves daily with people that are happy, loving, selfless, and good, then those attributes are more likely to be found in us.  Individuals are constantly building habits based on the people around them.  Surrounding ourselves with positive people will surely help us to gain a positive attitude, and a positive outlook in situations that don't seem to have any goodness in them.
  I have had many different kinds of friends throughout my schooling, and looking back, I can see that each and every one of those people influenced my behavior and my attitude, sometimes in a positive way, and sometimes in a negative way.  Surrounding myself with happy and loving people has helped ease my burdens and has taught me how to be a better friend towards others.
  Changing surroundings can be a hard thing to do.  Change in general is a difficult thing to cope with.  However, I know that if the change is for the better, then it is worth it.  If the people you spend your time with are not good influences, you can surround yourself with people that are.  It is possible.  And it is so rewarding.