Letter 52: Everything you need is already right in front of you
When we pursue simple pleasures
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Happy June to you!
What an immense pleasure it is to write this introduction for my former student, Sydney. My last few years of teaching included a newspaper course in which the students produced a quarterly publication. As a whole, these students were bright, unique, and capable, but there are always a few whose impressions are indelible. Sydney’s kindness, optimism, and perseverance set her apart from her peers. It has been so fun to see Sydney continue to blossom in her college career, especially while navigating the uncertainty of being a full-time student in these times. Sydney’s wisdom beyond her years is apparent here, as she has a true talent for finding and relishing in small pleasures within our difficult circumstances. I know you’ll enjoy her perspective. — Emily
“Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, shift your energy to what you can create.”
Roy T. Bennett
My roommate and I really like to puzzle. Just shy of an obsession, it’s a hobby we stumbled upon last semester after an impulse buy at a local bakery led to an afternoon of intense concentration. Our other roommates would lend a helping hand here and there, but puzzling really became our thing. One positive to Zoom University? Lots of extra time on our hands.
As that infamous spring semester wore on, we developed a routine: we’d have class, get coffee-to-go from one of our favorite places, turn on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and puzzle until our evening classes. It was bliss about 90% of the time. The other 10%? Absolutely agonizing. We’d have the border done but just couldn’t seem to get any of the middle going. So many pieces, so many colors…no matter how many we’ve completed before, the sight of an unconstructed 1,000-piece puzzle will never cease to be intimidating. But we’d always power through.
It might be slow-going (or veeeerry slow-going; the longest it took us to finish a puzzle was about a month), but we’d always find our rhythm and the pieces would start to literally fall into place from there. Every time we finished a puzzle, we took a few moments to stop and really admire our handiwork. It could be hard to believe that what had once been a senseless jumble of pieces had somehow come together to create a cohesive picture.
As I find myself at the end of another school year, I can’t help but feel like I’m staring into a cardboard box with 1,000 haphazard pieces. I have no idea where the time went, but suddenly I’m a senior in college and I’m supposed to start building a picture from the various pieces of my life lived thus far.
When do I need to take the GRE?
What grad programs am I interested in?
Do I even want to go to grad school?
Where do I see myself in five years?
These are some of the questions that have been rattling around my head for a while now, and it’s easy to fall down the rabbit hole and let the uncertainty turn into fear.
However, if puzzling has taught me a lesson, it’s that sometimes you need to step back and take a good, long look at the big picture. Everything you need is already right in front of you, so there’s no reason to worry that you’re not equipped for the challenge. Embracing the uncertainty and letting events unfold is part of the magic of puzzling, and of life. If you try to control every situation, you’ll go crazy.
There are plenty of times when I would be working on one part of a puzzle only to get sidetracked and find my groove somewhere else; if I restricted myself to always following a set plan, I wouldn’t find enjoyment in the process.
I fully acknowledge that I have no idea what I’m going to be doing in five years, and instead of terrifying me, that thought exhilarates me. I have exactly what I need to make it to tomorrow, and tomorrow I’ll have what I need for the next day. It’s slow-going, and sometimes easier said than done, but it's tried and true.
The proof is in the pudding; when I look back at my life, even now, I’m amazed at how life has worked itself out to get me where I am today. High school senior me had the border but very little filled in, and that terrified me. Without even realizing it, I found those pieces and built a picture that led me to OU, and the rest is history.
No one is more equipped to create my future than I am, and no one is more equipped to create your future than you are. So carry that power with you and remember that the very best experiences and lessons learned take time.
Sydney’s Five Favorite Things
Although these are technically two items, getting a laptop stand and a wireless keyboard have changed my desk experience, allowing me to not be hunched over my keys for hours on end. This combo lets me raise my computer to eye level, type with better posture, and help me feel more productive overall.
These protein-packed Kodiak Cakes Powercakes are SO easy to whip up and taste sinfully good; perfect for busy school mornings or midday snacks, they keep you full longer than regular pancakes, and are made from healthier ingredients.
One of my last summer reads was The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune. This book is whimsical, witty, and presents a well-timed message about acceptance and love in an unexpectedly touching way; I don’t re-read books often, but this is one I would.
This Birdie personal alarm is the perfect safety gadget because the slim design and large clip make it easy to attach to my backpack, hold when I’m running, or keep on my keys.
It would be wrong of me to talk about my love for puzzles without mentioning them here; we’ve built quite a few from different brands, but Galison is a company we’ve loved a lot.
With gratitude,
Sydney Lewis
P.S. On learning delight, letting it be, and seeking symbols.
