Sunday, April 10, 2016

Dear Fast Paced World,

It seems that ever since I've returned from spring break my mind has been going non-stop.  There's always something to think about, worry about, somewhere to be, something to do, it's hard to catch a break!  That's the thing about college most of the time.  The workload is never ending.  Even when you do sit down to take time for yourself, there is something in the back of your mind pestering you. It's frustrating! This week has been rather productive for me, which means one of two things: it's the calm before the storm, or I am finally somewhat getting my life together.  I'm hoping for the latter.

Last weekend my roommate and I walked to the public library in Fayetteville.  It was a beautiful day and a much needed get away from my hectic weekend at studio.  I got a couple books, and believe it or not, I'm actually already on the second one.  I haven't made it through a single book all semester, all year even, and now I can finish one in a week? The reason for this is not because I finally found time to sit down and read it, but because I made time.  There is a huge difference between the two, and once you find it, everything changes.  

I was sitting in class one day early in the semester when 5 o'clock hit, and our bell tower started playing the alma mater.  I later learned that every single day at this time (Every Single Day), the same thing occurs.  I lived on this campus for 6 months before I noticed it.  Yes, maybe it's because I was never near the building at this time, or I was in a busy place and couldn't hear it. There are tons of explanations as to why.  But maybe, it's simply because I never took the time to notice.  I sat there on this day and listened to it, focused solely on the song.  Everything else disappeared for  a moment: The class I was in, my professor's New York accent, all of it gone. Just for a minute.  And it was incredible.  

Twice this week I spent my hour break between classes at the Greek Theater (a small outdoor theater on campus) with friends.  I tried to get some studying done, but I mostly just laid there and enjoyed the sun.  Did I have things I could have been doing? Absolutely.  But I enjoyed myself, even just for an hour.  The more productive you are when you do sit down to work on things, the more time you will have later on to just enjoy.  

Tuesday night of this week I sat in my friends dorm and played Settlers of Catan (one of my new favorite board games, you should check it out), and I caught myself looking around.  We were just hanging out, playing a board game, yelling at each other for ruining our precious schemes.  What we didn't notice is how precious the moments were.  Walking home at 11 o'clock on a Tuesday night I realized how blessed I was.  I had just spent hours surrounded by some of my very best friends, every one of us living very fast-paced lives, and we all took time out of it to sit down and play a game together.  Yes, I agree that this may be a silly little thing to make such a big deal about.  But is it not the silly little things that make life so great? Why am I stressing out about the project due in three weeks when I should be sitting here just enjoying good company? I'm obviously not doing anything about it right now anyways!

I know.  Its's hard to slow down when many of the things going on around us seem to be so out of our control.  I am the queen of go, go, go! But when you learn to appreciate the silly little things, like a walk to the library, or an hour in the sun, or even a board game with friends (and I don't mean appreciate it as in "oh that was nice," but really truly appreciate them), your life will free up a little.  It really is in your head, you have to allow yourself to slow down.  So if there are things you are wanting to do, do not simply find time for them, make time for them.  It will workout, it always does. 

"Plenty of people miss their share of happiness, not because they never found it, but because they didn't stop to enjoy it."  -William Feather

So here's to slowing down, and to the silly little things.  
Yours Truly,
Pantless Sunday's