The past month, life has been crazy. Midterms run into Spring Break, there are the tests after the break and it just seems to never end. Between extracurriculars, classes, tests, and just the unexpected things that pop up - life is stressful. It’s the time of year where we feel bogged down with the stress of day to day life and, too often, we forget to stop and appreciate the good.

I found myself being more pessimistic than I would like, so this week I told myself that I wanted to focus on being present - on really appreciating and taking in my surroundings. On any given day, there are plenty of positives, we just have to seek them out. Whether it is walking to class, studying at the park, or going for a run (none of which are really my favorite things to do) we can still find joy in them.

I make an 8 am walk through the Grove every day of the week Monday through Friday. Usually, I grumble about how the dew from the grass is getting my feet wet or how exhausted I am. This week I realized how great the freshly cut grass smells, and I even managed to smile at the people I passed. I found that by the time I got to my class, I was in a pretty good mood. Studying is never my favorite thing to do, and I always seem to have plenty of it, but this week at Lamar Park, while flipping my flashcards in my hammock, I overheard a mother give her son advice so beautiful that I teared up. I was even able to enjoy my jogs this week, as I marveled over all the blooming flowers on campus. Yesterday, the weather was crazy and I got caught in the middle of a downpour. But as I watched the sunset while I drove down Jackson Avenue, my wet jeans did not seem as terrible anymore. It was the little things that made my week better, and I realized that the little things have been here all semester, I just didn’t notice.

I didn't notice because I was so focused on all the things I needed to get done. I have been living my life in fast forward, trying to complete the next obstacle, and I don't give myself enough time to just sit and be present. Friends, life is too short to grumble another minute. Life is too short to mope or be unhappy. I have five more weeks before my freshman year is over, and I do not want to spend another second picking the negative over the positive.

There are so many things in life that we do not have control over, but we can choose to make a conscious decision to pick the positive every day. It is a decision that takes some work, but once you start to see the difference you feel better and you do better - you are better. Open your eyes to the opportunities the world has for you because you deserve to be happy. You deserve to take delight in life. You deserve to notice and appreciate the little things in life.