Thanksgiving break is right around the corner (not that I have to remind any fellow college students, who are no doubt counting down the days), and I haven’t been this thankful for good news in a long time.
Every year, Thanksgiving break feels like it’s practically light-years away. That is until it’s actually upon us, and then the semester winds down in a frighteningly fast spiral of papers, projects, finals and some much-needed stress crying.
Maybe Thanksgiving break isn’t such good news after all.
Since that delightfully stressful time period is almost upon us and this is my last Thanksgiving break/semester at ISU, I wanted to take a moment to think about what I have to be appreciative of before it’s too late.
Idaho State has been a great institution to me over the past three years, and I don’t think I’ve often stopped to acknowledge the most enjoyable parts of my time here.
I think it’s difficult to pick out the good times when each semester gets blurred into deadlines, stress and the like.
This semester I’ve felt the weeks speeding past, but when I focus, it’s easier to remember the fun times spent with friends and coworkers.
Despite the stress of managing a student newspaper, taking classes and preparing to move to a new city sight-unseen, I’ve had a fantastic time this semester with the people I care about.
I know hindsight is 20/20, but I’m attempting to beat myself to the punch by recognizing the good in my life as it happens, so when I wind up lonely and bummed out in Chicago I can try to cheer myself up with fond memories of Idaho State University.
What’s a little bit sad to me, though, is that it takes a season of giving thanks in order to stop and reflect on what’s good in our lives. I know people say this about all holidays: “Why only express your love for someone on Valentine’s day? Why only be generous and good to one another in the spirit of Christmas?”
It’s a valid point, and one I’ve tried to defy by being more mindful of those attitudes throughout the year.
But it seems like the non-seasonally-themed parts of life are a little bit like the semester leading up to a break. We get so caught up in meeting deadlines and making it until the next class, day, weekend, etc. that the small things like spending time with loved ones or pursuing a hobby seem insignificant.
That’s why I’m so looking forward to Thanksgiving break, or “Breaksgiving,” if you will. It’s a chance to slow down and appreciate life without the constant pressure of a normal week.
Sure, there will be homework assignments to complete and responsibilities to fulfill. But waking up without an alarm clock and sipping coffee in the late morning with my family will be a moment to savor when school picks up again, or when my family is in a different time zone.
I guess what I’m getting at is that I’m thankful for the opportunity to give thanks. Sometimes all we need is a break and a seasonal reminder of the good things in our lives, and hopefully the good things yet to come.
