As a sophomore in college, it often feels like life is coming at me in full force. Every day serves up a fresh experience to put on my naive 20-year-old plate. Despite the novelty of the ever-changing circumstances of my young life, there is one domain in which I am yet to encounter unfamiliarity: the size of my bed.
Since the genesis of my childhood, I have slept in a Twin XL bed. From middle school to high school to my freshman year in the UCSD dorms to now, in my first apartment, my nights have been spent within the confines of a 38” x 80” rectangular frame. To some, this reality may seem dismal: I must have heard of the vast luxury of California Kings; the spaciousness of Queens; even a Full would be roomier! I must confess that my 5’11 body does occasionally long for the expansive sleeping territory of a larger bed size, but I cannot betray the reliability of my Twin XL this far into our relationship. Here is what I have learned from sleeping in a Twin bed for the entirety of my life.
I have started to embrace the little things in life- metaphorically and literally. Admittedly, the Twin XL is small; however, this is the exact quality of the bed frame that I revel in. I find tranquil solace in the short breadth of my bed. Realizing the inherent comfort of my bed has taught me to seek beauty in other minor affairs. I now delight in the slightest shift in sunset colors; I celebrate the scent of a new candle; I relish in the cloudy blanket of a gloomy day. My Twin XL has allowed me to derive importance from otherwise trivial matters.
I have begun to champion gratitude as the primary foundation of my happiness. Although I love my bed, it is refreshingly restful to sleep in a Queen in a hotel or in my friend’s Full. The tight borders of my bed make me appreciate the nights when I can escape them. Consequently, I actively try to be grateful in every realm of my life: for the stability of what I already have, such as the Twin XL, and the thrill of rarities that I do not always experience, such as sleeping in a bigger bed.
I have become a more adaptable person. My Twin XL has been with me for every new location, year, and phase in my life without fail; it has reminded me that though things change, there is consistent value in the growth that occurs through reorganization. Each time I have rearranged the furniture in my room or moved into a completely new one, my bed frame has remained a constant. I am no longer overwhelmed by change, but rather prepared to acclimate to new situations. Because my bed has successfully adapted to each new stage in my life, I know that I can too.
Something small, like a Twin XL bed, can possess incredible significance. You just have to look for it.