My thought of the day :
Sometimes, one makes long-term plans and commits to making
sacrifices for the next few years to achieve it and when the goal
comes close to fruition, there is such a sense of calm, peace and
contentment and pride in oneself.
It's never easy to commit oneself to a goal that will take years to
achieve. It calls for discipline, a lotta lotta sacrifice, painful
lifestyle changes and more... and sometimes, you feel
less-than-human because of your circumstances. You feel like you're
trudging on through the endless days, when the hours just drag on
by, slowly...
That's when close friends make all the difference.
Close friends can be buddies you've known for years, or pals you've
just known recently but who are on the same wavelength as you. Real
friends soften the pain of your struggles by just being there for
you, offering a listening ear and advice when necessary.
At the end of it, you'll look back and realise what was really
precious to you, and who were real pals who stood by you through
your trials and who were your cheerleaders in your little victories
and milestones. You'll realise that a lot of times, you weren't
really yourself as you were burnt-out, depressed, or you've
momentarily lost sight of your self-worth and confidence, but your
true friends never abandon you just because you became 'boring
company' or weren't in an uppity mood. Precious gems. 
Victory might be long in coming... but it nevertheless, remains
sweet, and sweeter still, if the toil was long-drawn and
great.
OK, I kinda cheated here... TWO thoughts instead of just one
THOUGHT of the day... but I'm sure you won't mind! 
