The technology that we have access to these days is incredible from our phones to the cars we drive to the Internet. I always forget how much I rely upon it until one of them goes down and needs to be fixed or replaced. My car has been running smoothly for the first few hundred miles of the trip, but I took it in to be sure. I felt very confident leaving my car, and all of the things I need to continue my journey.

I left my car at the repair shop, and decided that I was going to walk to the nearest gas station to fuel my dark passenger that always wants to tell me that I need more nicotine then the gum is providing me. It’s an interesting thing to deal with consciously knowing that the buzz is no longer obtainable, but that voice in my head convinces me it is worth trying again. They should create an interactive museum exhibit so everyone can experience the back and forth battle like two little children arguing over a toy. It worked out really well actually because I got to walk around neighborhoods I’ll probably never be to again, and have it really sink in that I get to make my own choices from here on out. 

This is where I ended up getting my tobacco product. I got the opportunity to sit down here and read a part of my book while I waited for my sister to pick me up. It was so peaceful to take a break, sit down, and be present at this random gas station I will never see again most likely.

  
This morning I received a call from the repair shop saying they had found the leak and that they could either replace the rack for $1300, or replace the boot kit for $450. My first thought was to get upset because I have a limited amount of funds that is not being replenished at this moment, but realizing I am fortunate enough to have a vehicle that needs repairs brought me back to the reality of how good things are today.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again,

because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause;

who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while dating greatly…”

Theodore Roosevelt from the book Daring Greatly (thank you Amanada)