An Excuse for Today

I can be a bit of a downer. I often overthink trivial things, let anxiety hog my attention, or feel uncertain about my future. I am sure many people reading this can understand. Because of that, I wanted to share a small something I do to pull my head out of the dirt.

Look for anything, even the tiniest excuse, to thank God for today. Even though I despise winter, I must acknowledge the snow looks beautiful, plus once I am used to the cold, spring will feel warmer. I may be tired and unenthusiastic to attend a morning class, but there is something serene about campus at dawn which I would have missed if I slept in. Appreciating nature, taking pride in a small feat, recognizing the wonderful people in my life — if minor things can put me down, why can’t these other minor things lift me up? Sure, not every day will have something new to remark on, but it is enough to appreciate one more day of the things you recognized before.

Whatever you find does not have to make you happier or be directly related to you. What matters is that you take a moment to acknowledge the existence of good around you and look for places you can provide good to others. Take note of when someone helps another, be happy for those who find joy, admire the gifts God blessed us with. To be clear, it is okay if you still feel sorrow, anger, fear, or even jealousy. That is not to say those emotions are encouraged, but pretending nothing is weighing on you will not make you feel any lighter. Personally, the whole exercise gives me a moment of stillness when my thoughts are restless and a reason not to wish today never happened.

We should still reach out for support and guidance when we need it, of course. Did you know that Huntington University students have access to professional counseling services? More information on those services and how to request them is available at huntington.edu/Counseling-Services.