Taking A Minute

     Hey! Every now and then, there are days where my schedule is open, the skies are clear, and a swift breeze carries through the streets and paths of Tallahassee. On those days, I can't help but take a minute to appreciate the small things in life: good weather, good friends, the quietness of a peaceful day. Oftentimes, I find myself getting caught up in the urgency of everything, with work deadlines, looming grad school plans, and distant events seemingly clogging up every minute of my day with worry and stress. But on days like these, those thoughts evaporate, leaving me calm and appreciative of every aspect of my lucky life.

    Because really, I am very lucky. Sure, I have days where I can get pretty overwhelmed by some bullshit at the apartment, or strict project deadlines I have to meet, or the feeling I need to make time for the important people in my life when I don't have time to spare. But generally, I am blessed to be in the position I'm in, with a healthy, supportive family, good friends that are there for me, and little things like knowing I don't need to balance a job alongside my studies to survive (thanks Dad!). I have a life many would be jealous of, and sometimes I think I lose sight of that, and what makes life worth living.

    Lately I've been having some conversations with Wade that I think have helped me define my perspective on life, at least at this stage anyways. In the business of everyday life, I haven't really been working on any long-term creative projects (besides this blog), which I had previously thought I'd be doing all the time in college. It's easy to feel like I'm falling behind in accomplishment when I compare myself to others, but that's only really because of my perspective. I realized that recently, I have been cultivating the smaller things in life, like my relationships with the people around me, rather than working on some career project or script. And honestly, it's the little things that have made me so happy.

    How many people can say that they're recognized by the owners of a restaurant, and have them prepare your meal without you needing to order? Not many people, I'd imagine, but even fewer people have the pleasure of being able to get to know the employees behind the counter, asking how their days are, how their families are, really forming a connection with people most people don't give a second glance to? For a while, I selfishly thought that being recognized was what felt good about my relationship with the local restaurant workers. But really, I think I just value that human connection with people. Most people don't know their names, so I imagine I can bring a smile to people's faces when I ask them about their apartment hunt, or how their dog is doing after a surgery. It's on my more grueling days where I can walk into a restaurant, not really feeling up to much conversation, only to have these strangers talk to me and cheer me up. It's those small connections that make life worth living, to me at least.

   Being friendly to people is one of those things that is very, very easy to do for others, yet is seldom seen in day-to-day interactions. It's pretty corny to say, but I think I've really found myself talking to more people like that, just a quick simple ask about their day, or a little compliment here and there. Brightening the lives around you brightens your own, so why not?

    Finding the simple beauty in the weather and trees lately has been great for me. Today when I got out of class, it was slightly chilly, and instead of taking the bus home immediately and retreating into my little cave, I opted to instead stop by a coffee shop, get some tea, and then lay down on Landis Green for the first time in over half a year. Watching the people walk by, staring up at the tree branches casting intricate shadows over me, and just enjoying my existence for a while was the break I needed from my daily routine. I called my sister and talked for like an hour on how she's doing and how her college admissions journey was going, and I was really happy to just stop and drop everything to enjoy a conversation on a beautiful day.

    I know not everyone is lucky enough to afford a few minutes out of their day to just exist for a while and enjoy your surroundings, but if you can, I implore you to do so. Don't get caught up in the endless cycle of day to day routine, make sure you take a minute every now and then :)