When all else fails, take a breather
I hopped a train to my hometown in Michigan last Thursday. I’m a fullest-time student taking an internship, a voluntary blog position and work, so it was against my best interest to dodge town. I was feeling utterly stressed, so I allowed myself.
The minute I sat down my eyes had a moment’s rest. With no internet connection, newspapers, television, interviews, books, or other nagging priorities barking at me, I was napping before I had the time to think - with homework in hand and all.
Autumn in Michigan is a place where I can look at the stars - really look at them. It’s a place where I can breathe in deep - the smell of the beautifully dying trees. The trees in the country have nothing on the planted trees in Humboldt Park near the man-made pond.
Sitting on a cold bench with Dad drinking black coffee in a styrofoam cup watching high school football and talking about fishing and politics beat interviewing a stranger anyday. Taking my two-year-old neice to a pumpkin patch and watching her attempts at pulling the red wagon full of pumpkins beat waiting for the bus or train. The annual Pulaski “DAZE” and meeting up with an old friend beat shuffling off to an eight hour day of work. Catching up with high school girlfriends over a drink beat losing myself in homework. Watching cheesy horror films with my sister until the wee hours beat waking up early for class.
I enjoy learning. In fact, I would stay in school for as long as possible if it didn’t cost so much. But more than anything, I like getting back to my self. I love the fact that I have a home in Chicago and a home in Michigan. I like knowing that if times are tough, my family is a four-hour train ride north. Going back reminds me to breathe.
