With finals week and the holidays quickly approaching, this is a busy time of year for everyone. I recently caught myself going through the motions just trying to get things done, and I knew I needed to make a change. I decided to put some time aside to reflect at the end of each day. Then, throughout the week I could look back on how I have been feeling and what I have been doing.
By doing this, I have noticed what my patterns and habits are, what ones are beneficial, and what ones are not so helpful. I put together a weekly R.E.P.O.R.T. based on my reflections this week. It was important to me that my reflections be honest and transparent, so this report shows the good and the bad parts of life and helps me to appreciate both.
Reading: This week I have been reading the book “A Whole New Mind” by Daniel H. Pink. I admittedly must read this for one of my classes and have been slowly skimming it for the past two months. But just this week, I decided to really get into it, and I already finished it because it was THAT good. This book has made me feel excited to create again and reminded me of the value of being a dreamer. Creativity and imagination are skills just as much as computer coding and analysis are.
Eating: I have channeled my inner Parisian this week by inhaling copious amounts of coffee, cheese, and chocolate. I put on some Frank Sinatra for a Christmas in Paris type of vibe that makes the snow on the ground tolerable and I eat until I cannot eat anymore. I, of course, have real meals, but in between, I gorge myself on cheese and mini chocolates.
Playing: I have loved A Tribe Called Quest for a few years now, but they have never made their way onto the essential playlists of my life until this week. I usually brood over emotional and dark songs and only listen to rap while getting ready or hanging out with friends. But something this week told me to shuffle play on their discography and I am glad I did because I have not stopped listening since. If I feel the slightest tug of sadness in my heart, I put on the song “Jazz (We’ve Got)” and am immediately soothed.
Obsessing: I stumbled across a band called Trampled by Turtles and am obsessed with them. This is not a new band, and I am sure they have a solid fan base, but I have not heard anyone talk about them, so I thought I would. They remind me of a mix of Bon Iver, The Lumineers, Noah Kahan, and Caamp but at the same time, they are unlike anything I have heard before. They have tons of original songs and some great covers of bands like The Pixies and Radiohead.
Recommending: With all this reflection time, I have been thinking about what matters most to me, and for the first time in my life, it is not school. I am thankful for my education, but as I get older, I realize how much more I value my relationships. I recommend reaching out to family and friends and even pets to remind them how much they mean to you and how much you appreciate the little things. I used to never reach out to anyone because I felt annoying or like it just was not important. It is important! We must tell our loved ones how we feel whenever we can because our time together is short, and nothing is guaranteed. We all know life is short and tomorrow is not promised so let’s act on this and give love today.
Treating: When I tried to tap back into my creative side that had been dormant for so long, I felt guilty for not working on the “more important” stuff like final projects or assigned readings. I thought that writing poems or reading stories for myself was a waste of time because I had other things to do. I had to stop thinking that one form of learning was better than another. Using your mind is never a waste of time, and when we take time to treat ourselves to learning about the things we care about, we learn about ourselves in the process. There is always going to be another assignment to work on or an exam to study for. Take time to nourish your mind so that it can work harder for you when you need it.