My four years of college were filled with moments of joy, laughter, despair, and reflection. Life can make you feel happy on one hand and miserable on the other. Whether you have experienced both ends, it always comes back to feeling “okay”. I remember one of my Thursdays: waking up early, cooking breakfast, and commuting to campus by jeepney. Nothing unusual happened; I sat in time for class, half-listening to discussions, half-observing my classmates' conversations come and go, just passing the time. There were no big events or dramatic news, but I just felt present, quietly content in the midst of a regular day. The days when you say “I’m fine” and don’t do anything in particular. You are living life normally. And that’s okay.
The “okay” days filled most of my college journey. What did I do? Not merely attending classes but, looking deeper, being consistently present. Sometimes this meant having lunch with my friends at the Coop, having conversations with classmates about assignments (and considering how to help them), or standing tall and presiding over the class as Chairperson. At other times, it was simply taking a walk around campus, contributing to an organization, or chatting with friends online. There were also quiet moments, just me and the trees at the Mini Forest, sitting to appreciate the sunlight reflecting jade leaves, all the while hearing nature’s stillness and constant echoes of wildlife.
You don’t have to stare at the computer all day, grind till 12 midnight to catch up with the latest trends in technology or social media, and rush yourself to thinking “What if I miss out?” “How can I ever catch up?” Because you can catch up, sustainably, by being consistently present: doing what you want to do, what you think is right to do for you and for everyone close to you, every day, with or without anyone noticing. And that starts by accepting that almost every day feels “okay” and that you are living life normally as you should. Whether intended by the bodies and grace of the universe.