Author: Mia Lambert

We are back! I had to take a small break last week due to a huge array of big things happening in my life, but this week I was able to rest, relax, and resume my appreciation for the little things. No matter how the past week or two or three have been treating you, I hope you’re able to stop and smell those roses along your path through it all.

Like I said, this week has been all about resetting and recuperation. From doing every Monday crossword in the NYT archive to indulging in some No Thai here and there, I’ve been working hard to keep spirits up as I’ve been working hard. Second semester is no joke!

Something important that I’ve truly realized during all of these rituals and routines is the importance of trusting your future self. During a phone call the other week I had someone tell me to allow my present self to trust my future self. At the time of this call I was so stressed and anxious for my future. I had signed a lease for the first time, I had decided the minor I wanted to pursue, and it all felt like my world was spinning at too fast of a speed. I was worried I was making all the wrong choices and that I would end up a failure to myself and others. The person I was talking to, however, reminded me that if I’ve made it here already with all the things I’ve been able to do and the joy I’ve been able to have that goes to show that my future self has been making the right decisions. It’s important to recognize that whatever you’re doing in the moment is what is best for you right then. We live life moment by moment, not year by year. To have trust in your future self allows your present self to take care of what you need right now. Although it’s hard to not worry about tomorrow or next month or next year even, it’s helped me a lot to remember that my future self will take care of me because my present self already is.

To take into our next week:

Ins: Journaling in every form possible (drawing, writing, recording, etc.), calling long distance friends every day, silly graffiti, Sierra Ferrell my beloved, slightly-stale Haribo gummy bears, laying in the grass.

Outs: Complaining for the sake of complaining, not having any shorts to wear, bottling up every single thought you have, feeling like you need to have an answer to everything, laying in bed until noon, hating the future when it hasn’t even happened yet.

Here’s to our wonderful weather from this past weekend and to good health and happiness in surviving the end of the semester!

Sunshine? Rain? Wind? Snow?! What a week its been! In between my commutes from my dorm to Stamps to Hatcher to (my favorite place on campus) the Union, I’ve seen a whole year’s worth of seasons pass by sometimes in just one day! And I though last week was crazy enough. Mind you, as a Minnesotan I’ve seen my fair share of uber-chaotic weather but these past seven days may have just taken the cake. From donning sunny summer skirts to considering busting out my knee-length winter jacket, I have fully exhausted all the capabilities of my wardrobe.

In terms of the big and small of this week, it’s been mostly a lull. Loads and loads of work sprinkled between some down and up time has meant many a late nights huddled in library corners. Most notably this week I have been especially grateful to know as many people as I do on campus and most importantly feeling like I can say hi to most every one of them. At the beginning of the year my most fear-ridden task was actually going out and meeting people. It was hard at times, but once you commit to going out and doing something you’ll have a high chance of getting to know a great amount of amazing people. I encourage everyone out there to at least do a little wave to an acquaintance or two you see on your commute to class. It makes everyone feel loved! And when does the world ever stop needing some love in it?

To take into our next week:

Ins: Working in the Hatcher stacks, sappy 00s ballads, cabbage, taking walks even if you could bus it, Faygo, going to random events even if you’re nervous (you never know what’ll happen!), appreciating really good typography.

Outs: Not breaking in your shoes the right way, only having a really big umbrella and a really small umbrella, rude bus drivers, falling asleep with headphones on, using way too much dry shampoo.

Here’s to warmer weather (knock on wood!) or at least more consistent weather! No more juggling games of sweaters, umbrellas, hats, oh my!

“All is fair in lunch and war!“

As the great OK Go stated (more or less) twas a week full of upside downs and inside outs indeed! From beautiful skies to devious windchill, not only has the weather been a rollercoaster but so has my to-do list. It’s felt like I’ve simultaneously had nothing to do while having nothing to do and vice versa. I’ve been jumping from place to place every which way, but in between all of this commotion there’s been some great moments of rest, relaxation, and rollicking!

With our first full week back in the full swing of things, there were a few big moments! Most of all I had my work shown in my first college art show thank to the newly formed club The Stampede on campus. Whether you draw, paint, sculpt, write, or anything in between, consider submitting your work for their next show! It was amazing to not only see my work among so many other beautiful pieces but also talk to and celebrate with other art majors and non-art majors alike.

Some other highlights of this week: Celebrating my friend’s birthday with balloon guests and Spirited Away, (badly) playing a Tekken Tournament and singing along to YouTube karaoke with friends, and in general doing SO much more drawing everyday!

To take into our next week:

Ins: Telling people you think they’re awesome, the color green, admitting defeat (in a cordial manner), mismatched socks, Wisconsin cheese, using the word awesome!

Outs: Impulsive spending, forgetting to floss, watching really bad TV shows just to have something on in the background, chipping at nail polish, forgetting to bring a hat on really cold night walks home from the library.

Happy (or not so happy) Daylight Savings to you all and let us all hope for some more permanent blue skies ahead of us!

“When in Rome!”

This spring break the stars and planets aligned well enough for me and my friends to grace beautiful Toronto with our presence! From Kensington Market to Cabbagetown, we probably supplied the Canadian economy with enough money to last them till next spring break. Although we didn’t get to climb atop the fabled CN tower, we found many things to love about this Great White Northern city.

Because of so many of the amazing sights we got to see, it was a little hard to pick out my absolute favorite small things of this week. Overall, letting the tide of the city sway our adventures most likely encapsulates the most fulfilling parts of this trip. This week reminded me that even 45 minute long train rides squished between groups of commuters and students alike can be made meaningful with the right people beside you. Even if you stayed at home (whether that be Ann Arbor or beyond) or went to even more captivating places around the world, I hope you were able to spend beautiful quality time with those you love.

To take into our next week:

Ins: Taking pictures even if its obvious that you’re a moony-eyed tourist, carrying a water bottle everywhere, taking notes in tiny notebooks, jeans, public transportation!

Outs: Not listening to your body when you need a break, overpacking, sleeping through 5 different alarms every morning, forgetting to put in earrings, not tying your shoelaces.

Good luck to everyone with tests, critiques, midterms, projects, and everything in between! We are almost to the finish line <3