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\u201cI’ve been waiting for a guide to come and take me by the hand.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n This week’s Scribble includes lyrics from\u00a0<\/span>Disorder<\/span><\/i> by Joy Division, released in 1979, and is inspired by the spirals I tend to get caught in when I spend too much time in my head, something I\u2019ve caught myself doing a few times this week. Lead singer, the late Ian Curtis, once said \u201cAll my lyrics are open to interpretation by the individual and imply many different meanings, therefore their relevance is purely subjective.\u201d This makes the lyrics perfect for me to interpret in the way I need them most right now: trying to find my way back to myself in a time of stress and anxiety.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cCould these sensations make me feel the pleasures of a normal man?\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n This is my first semester of college with in-person classes, and, sometimes, balancing schoolwork with my social life isn\u2019t easy. With the stress of midterm exams, the deadlines for papers approaching, the countless clubs that I am a member of (I adore all of them, but they are still commitments!), the pandemic, illnesses, and other conflicts in our community and world, I haven\u2019t quite felt like myself this past week.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cLose sensations, spare the insults, leave them for another day.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Luckily, for every emotion, I am always able to find a song that, while not necessarily alleviating my stress, makes me feel understood. Today, I found catharsis by sitting down, putting on my headphones, playing <\/span>Disorder<\/span><\/i> on repeat, and leaving the deadlines and stress behind to tap into my creativity and draw for a while. It\u2019s little things like this that help me relax and reconnect with myself.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c\u201dI’ve got the spirit, lose the feeling, take the shock away.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Having a few off-days has caused me to focus on gratitude, which is one of the most effective tactics that I use to help me feel like myself again. It\u2019s led me to reflect on how grateful I am to be here – at the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor, learning, making friends, creating art, expressing myself, and being surrounded by people who bring out the best in me. I\u2019m so incredibly fortunate to be somewhere that helps me be my best self, and I am so excited to have the opportunity to share my art, and my emotions, with you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n