Joy

It's so easy to get bogged down by things in life, especially in college. Tests, feelings of loneliness, the perception that everyone else has their life together, homework, trying to find a job, homesickness, and thousands of other worries can weigh us down to the point where we might be walking around with our own personal rain cloud over our heads.

But then there are moments that make everything seem clear. The birds begin to chirp as we stop raining on our own parade. We start thinking there are so many great things in life that we're not seeing.  We start considering how blessed we truly are.

Today I had one of those moments. My Political Sociology class let out twenty minutes early, and I had even more time to myself before my statistics test. I took this as a sign to slow down for a moment and enjoy the beautiful weather. I headed up through UGA's beautiful North Campus that I don't get to see much of, towards Starbucks downtown. As I walked I looked around at the gorgeous old architecture, the blue sky, people bustling past. I realized how fast I was walking and made an effort to slow down. Why was I in such a hurry? I listened to the fountain splashing and the serene silence as I passed the Law Library.

When I arrived at Starbucks, I treated myself to a vanilla latte and headed back to a grassy area on campus. I had intended to use this time to review my statistics notes, but I decided I was prepared enough and took out the book I've been reading. I read all the way through it's happy ending and I realized: this is the happiest I've felt in a while. I'm sitting in the sun, wearing shorts in February, with a coffee in hand reading a good book. I cannot imagine anything better at this moment.

There is such great joy in the little things in life, and I'm ashamed at how often I forget that.

Love and hugs,
Blake
"Today, I choose joy."