Balance.

I'm overwhelmed with both joy and stress.

How does that even work?

Joy- the sweet dog snoozing on the couch and the cinnamon candle burning on the coffee table.

Stress- the mountain of reading I've already had to do this week and it's only Tuesday.

Joy- the most patient, wise and creative husband who has been doing more than his share of housework while I've been busy with school.

Stress- the project proposal due tonight, for the class I have absolutely no grasp of.

Joy- so many wonderful, sweet friends.

Stress- no time to have all of the coffee dates my text message inbox is full of invitations for.

Joy- 16 pages of my thesis done.

Stress- Only 16 pages of my thesis done.

This balance is so beautiful, I'm afraid if I blink, it might disappear. What would the joy be without any of the stress? And how debilitating would the stress be without all of those glimmers of joy? What an exciting time of life this is. I wish I could save "25 year old grad student with the best husband and dog in the world" forever.