Assignment 3 Cate Clay

        My family and I love to travel to unique places and absorb as much of the area's culture and history as possible. When I was in the eighth grade we visited Costa Rica and, going all across the country, we saw beaches, mountains, cities, and volcanoes. While seeing this fascinating wide-range of landscapes was unforgettable, my fondest memory of this trip was actually meeting just one person.
        One day while on the beach, I spontaneously decided to take surfing lessons. There were quite a few local surfers giving lessons on the beach, so it didn't take long to hunt one down. My instructor's name was Johnny and to this day he is still one of the most affable people I have ever met.
         What impressed me most about Johnny were not his spectacular surfing abilities, but instead his unwavering positive attitude. As a surfing instructor in a third-world country, Johnny was not very wealthy. But his financial status just didn't seem to affect his outlook on life. He enjoyed life's simple pleasures, like getting the chance to surf on a beautiful day.
         Meeting Johnny will always be memorable because of how it influenced my outlook on life. He made me realize you won't be happy because of the wealth or material items that you accumulate throughout your life, but rather by appreciating all of the small blessings you have in your life. I now truly believe that your happiness greatly depends on how you view everyday life situations. I am immensely thankful that I was able to step out of my usual environment, meet someone completely different from myself, and better grasp how to maintain a genuine happiness.