If you’ve ever seen the incredibly funny and appropriately popular show “The Office,” then the term “perfectenschlag” should ring a bell. If not, you should seriously consider hopping onto your Netflix account right now and pressing that play button. You won’t regret it!

In one episode, the ridiculous and peculiar (and also my favorite) character known as Dwight Schrute coins this particular term by saying, “I’m so deep in perfectenschlag right now,” at a point when he considers his life to be practically perfect in every way. Now, when I first watched this episode, I didn’t think much of the word perfectenschlag except that it was fun to say (and that Dwight’s goober, but that’s a whole different story)! That was, until recently.

I was on vacation – I know, a college student on vacation? Crazy concept right?! A weekend get-away would probably be more fitting – with a few of my closest friends. McCall, Idaho was our destination. Boy, oh boy, is it beautiful there! In the peaceful waters of Lake Payette, I was sitting on the nose of a beautiful blue and white boat watching my crazy friends being viciously pulled behind on a water tube, when my vision suddenly focused in on the giant smiles that stretched from ear to ear on each of their faces. And I swear to you that in that moment, my entire world was put in slow motion mode. Somehow, in the chaos that was taking place, everything seemed serene. The sounds of lake water smacking the sides of the boat and wind whirling passed my head were drowned out, and my ears were filled with the soothing sound of Zac Brown Band’s lyrics to the song “Free”. The earth was still, the panorama was impeccable, and the feeling was unreal. A soft and fuzzy blanket wrapped itself around my heart. I was so, so, SO incredibly deep in perfectenschlag!

That’s when it all made sense to me: Perfectenschlag isn’t necessarily about perfection, but more about perception. It’s about those moments that take your breath away while simultaneously making it easier to breathe. It’s about those times when you can’t stop that stubborn smile spreading and taking over your entire face. It’s about those instances that you can actually feel love polluting the air. It’s not a once in a lifetime kind of feeling either. In fact, it most definitely should NOT be a one hit wonder. Because if you don’t ever get to experience such a feeling, then my advice would be to change something in your life. Mix it up a bit. Experience new things. Surround yourself with positivity and good vibes. Do what makes YOU happy. Find your perfectenschlag, embrace it, appreciate it, enjoy it, and then search for the next.