Winter Term Beginnings/ An Attitude Check

The first week of winter term was really relaxing, believe it or not. I was on duty on the first Tuesday, and without any stressful homework assignments or labs to work on, I sat at the desk and was cheerful and smiling and engaging everyone in conversation. It was a rather pleasant night of duty.

I think this sprung from getting up in front of everyone on Sunday at our RA winter Renewal thing, and I shared with the group something that I have learned about myself. I had discovered that I missed doing things that made me happy, or made me who I was. For when you are being who you were created to be, it makes you happy. One is happy doing what they are designed/purposed to do. A lot of the past few years here at OSU has been a lot of cutting more and more things out in order to make room for the growing course loads and additional duties as an RA, and instead of just managing time better, I cut things out of my life. For example, I initially stopped attending the small group I had my Junior year, and stopped attending church. When I became an RA, I could no longer attend Real Life (A college church group that meets on Tuesday Nights which is the same night as our Staff Meetings). I stopped crocheting and being craftsy, inviting residents over to just hang out with me (I did this a lot my first year as an RA, a bit last year, and even less this year), I don't connect with nature near as much as I used to when I lived at home (walking to the park, going on a long drive out in the middle of nowhere and trying to find your way back, etc.).

This last week, I tried to do as much if not all of these things. I hung out with Residents and watched the new movie Frozen, I worked on crocheting a scarf for my friend (which has been over a year due since I told him I'd make it last Christmas), I drove over to Karl and I's friend Derek's apartment to hang out with him and his fiance Lynsey to work on wedding crafts and on my way there I tried to take a new route, where I got lost, in the dark, so I was happy when my GPS was able to help me find my way there, I was able to invite my dear friend Paige over and drink tea and just chat for an hour or so about our winter break and our lives in general, we gave each other pep-talks and it was really nice. I also got to give her a box of tea since I have so much and she liked what she had, and I really enjoy getting to spoil others.

Through these small acts, and though they did take up some time, I really am just genuinely happier right now. I feel like I am myself, and who I'm supposed to be. I'm not nearly as bitter or unpleasant as I have been this last term. I'm excited to see if I can keep this up (probably not as much as last week as I actually have homework this week to work on) and hope that it will improve my attitude.

I hope that you can look into your life and see/find the things that make you happy and that you feel define who you are to better improve your attitude and perspective on things.

Thanks for reading!
-M.E.