This morning I overslept and ran out of the house without breakfast. I stumbled into school just in time to fail a pop quiz given by my math teacher. The day started out awful and only got worse. At lunch time I realized I had forgotten to pack a lunch, and, by this time, my stomach was growling. Practice was difficult and my muscles are now sore and aching. I have come home only to be faced with mounds of homework and the sound of my mother listing a series of chores that need to be done before dinner.

The stress has built up to the point where I am about to erupt! Then, out of the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of one of the things I treasure the most. In a small white frame on the corner of my desk, is a picture of me and my cross-country teammates. I notice me beaming, with my chin resting on Winique's shoulder. Jill is on my left side while Ola and Danielle kneel in front. Stefanie and Janelle are on the opposite side of Winique and everyone is wearing a smile as big as mine. We are surrounded by newly fallen leaves and I remember the brisk autumn breeze that would come and go through the day. I look more carefully at my friends and remember all the fun times we have spent together, celebrating victories, fooling our coach, and playing red rover on the soccer field. We have laughed together, cried together, and have had the best days of our lives together. In the photograph I am surrounded by my very best friends and filled with happiness. I look at the picture and no longer feel sorry for myself, only sorry that for that brief moment when I was about to explode I had forgotten I am one of the luckiest people alive. c