I think I may have found my sangha!

Yesterday I went to a Tibetan center, and holy crap I think I finally have found the community I've always wanted! It was a three-hour-long Troma Nakmo practice with tsok. I have always seen videos of chanting and chöd practice, but I never thought I would actually be IN a practice like that! It was surreal to hear the chöd drums, the bells, and an actual rinpoche chanting along with all of us! I met absolutely wonderful people there. I met a woman there and we talked and talked, and I told her my dream of being a translator. Now I want to pursue that dream even more now! I even think they may be holding Tibetan classes sometime in the future. I've been to the center two times before, but this third time was different. The people, the atmosphere, the sounds, and the smells. All were just extra amazing! When I left and got in the car, I told my dad (Who isn't a Buddhist, but incredibly supportive of me) something along the lines of "I think I have found my sangha." 2017 and 2018 were the absolute hardest years for me, but I have a feeling with a sangha, regular dharma practice, and extra therapy I will make this next year (or at least next year and the year after that) THE year of triumph over some of my problems. I felt happy the whole rest of the day afterward, which hasn't happened in months. I caught myself becoming sad today, but I'm working on it. If anyone feels hopeless and lonely, please know it will get better. After all, all conditioned phenomena are impermanent, including situations.

Thank you all for being such a wonderful online sangha in the meantime, and thank you to all the knowledgeable users that have helped guide me. Thank you all so so so much for being so wonderful.

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