I sat curled up as my best friends and I began a party game after doing our annual holiday gift exchange. I was wearing a blanket sweatshirt that my friend had gifted me knowing my constant state of cold and affinity for all things that are
1. Soft
2. Oversize
3. Hooded
It checked all three boxes, and I put it on immediately.
As we played the game, a combination of "Truth or Dare," "Never Have I Ever" and "Most Likely To," a pattern emerged that made me realize a recent change in my own habits that I had never noticed before. One of my friends tossed me a card that named me most likely to flake on plans, and another gave me a card that awarded me the most likely to go to a party and leave after 15 minutes. But I was not offended; they know me better than anyone and would never mean to insult me. Instead, it highlighted my tendency to choose sweatpants, home-cooked food and Netflix over making big plans. Without realizing it, I had become a homebody.
Don't get me wrong, I love to spend time with my friends, and when I am out with them, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. But as I have gotten older, I have grown out of the middle school need for constant entertainment and the high school fear-of- missing-out. College has made me appreciate time at home, under a blanket and drinking tea.
My first semester of school I spent so much money, like all other college students, on books, food and going out. Being at my house with a full pantry of free and healthy food has made me hesitate to go out to eat as often. I still love going out to eat with my friends to catch up and enjoy food that I can't find at school, but a movie night sounds just as good.
More than just watching my money slip out of my bank account one Panera visit at a time, I am looking at the upcoming four months away from my family and see my time with them slipping away as well. In two months when I call stressed and tired to my parents, I will wish I was just sitting in the living room with them, watching "Modern Family" and debating which characters we are most like.
I have noticed how I have changed since going off to school, and it is not inherently positive or negative. But it is another reminder of how it is important to keep a balance between being busy with friends and taking time for myself and family. Now because of the well-played card in the party game, I know I should occasionally push myself to say yes to plans more and to not let a soft blanket-sweatshirt get in the way of a good day, but it is also OK to be happy just where I am.
