Do you remember how you felt when you first became a student at Penn State? For many of us, we were enamored by every little facet of campus. We gazed up from the base of Old Main in awe, we were enticed by all the ice cream flavors at the creamery and we appreciated the calming flowers in the arboretum. Excitement filled our bodies as we stepped out of our dorm rooms, nothing on our agenda, simply excited for the wind to whisk us away to a fun place.
There was a wholesome beauty in the way that we saw the world around us. As the days passed, some of us may have preserved that giddy excitement. Sadly, many of us have fallen victim to the doldrums that come with losing gratitude for our surroundings.
A Growing Numbness
The winter months are still kicking, and for many of us, the dreariness means a less optimistic outlook on our surroundings. Should we really let some crusty snow and chilling winds blind us from the campus’ beauty?
Similar to the cold weather, repetition can inhibit our ability to express gratitude. But even if we have walked to class through the little peace garden between Old Main and the HUB a million times, why should we let our millionth-and-first time be filled with anything but infatuation?
Gaining Perspective
As we try to recall all the simple little blessings around us, even in the midst of winter, a quote comes to mind. If you’ve seen Love Actually or are on that side of TikTok, this will ring a bell: “If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find that love actually is all around.” The second we lose this perspective of life, the beautiful things that we should be grateful for become mundane.
There is something to be grateful for every day, whether it’s the fact that Dunkin made your coffee much more coffee-like than river water-like today, or that the CATA bus driver told you to have a good day as you stepped off the bus on your way to class.
Going Forward
Encourage yourself to finish out the winter, no, the rest of the year, no, the rest of your life while you’re at it, with an overly optimistic gaze. Go to the grocery store and admire all the pretty flower bouquets. Buy one for your friend or roommate because you know the surprise will make them smile. Bring gratitude to whatever moments you can and soon enough, you will see those around you behaving the same way.
Remember that love actually is all around. Love in the form of beautiful, simple things!
Tag us @VALLEYmag on Instagram and let us know what things you love on campus.
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