As I sit here in the quiet car of the Amtrak on the way home (I wrote this and then smiled as I realized I’ve come to see Penn as home as well:)), I’ve been thinking back to this winter break (our first college winter break!) and looking forward to the next semester.
This break definitely has gone by fast (as I expected), and if I’m completely honest, part of me wishes I had a little longer. Last night, spending time with my family, I just felt so blessed and knew I would miss them and my extended family and friends and the comfort of being at home (driving, showering without shower shoes, sleeping a quiet and warm place in my comfy bed). I honestly felt a little teary as I just really took everything in (as I took my last shower at home for a bit I really soaked it in… haha get it… lol).
Although there are definitely things I wanted to get done this break that I haven’t finished, overall I’d say it was a really fulfilling and relaxing break (and I’m going to choose to look at it like so:)).
I spent a lot of time with friends and family, worked out (kept up the jogging plan pretty well! Looking at the app. on my phone I logged at least 40 miles this break! :O :’)), set and have kept some new year’s resolutions pretty well (building good habits! :)), slept a good amount, went snowboarding with friends, finished a book (a really good one too! GRIT by Angela Duckworth! Would highly recommend and can’t wait to take her class and have her as a professor:)), went on lots of walks with people :’), restocked on some things for this semester (my suitcase is bulging oops but also I got these new shoes that I’m super excited about :P), read my Bible pretty consistently (since the beginning of 2020 have been keeping up with doing it first thing in the morning), spent a lot of time at Church, kept in touch with friends from college (and honestly even got to know some a lot better :)), and more!
If you made it through that jumble of a paragraph, I commend you haha. :P
While I’m not necessarily “in the place” I’d like to be fully starting the next semester, I am so ready and encouraged right now. I am so excited to see people, continue to develop friendships (and new ones too! I want to keep meeting new people!:)), build good habits, learn, grow in my Faith and as a person, and so much more! Ready to attack (not literally but you know how the expression goes :P) the next semester! :)
I also realize that some people say they get so bored over a long college winter break. I think for me personally, our break was a medium length but I definitely wasn’t bored. I always felt like I had things to do and things I wanted to do and people I wanted to see, etc. :) I think sometimes I wish I had a bit more time in my room just reading and reflecting since I felt like I was running around a lot (which was so nice but made me appreciate personal downtime even more and just waking up and reading :’)). Sooo,I also thought I’d take a couple moments to reflect on some “dos and don’ts” for my future self and anyone interested (for winter break). :)))
Do:
• Spend lots of time with family and be fully present! Really make the effort to talk with ya family and listen and share and yee! :’)
• Schedule time with friends (so nice :’)) and embrace spontaneous gatherings if you so wish! :)
• Be confident in your decisions!
• Read the Bible and spend lots of time at Church! :)
• Get lots of sleep and rest!
• Find a good book and read lots!
• Reflect and write and blog!
• Leave lots of time to do these things and read and spend time like just sitting in your room reading! Personally, I wish I had more of this kind of relaxation this break. :P
• Start things early (as you always realize later :P). Just get to it and finish!
• Explore libraries and get some work done there!
• Exercise! Go on walks! Take advantage of the weather!
• Go snowboarding or skiing or into Boston (plan a little day trip)!
• Plan ahead for next semester! And get on this; don’t leave it for the end!
• Unpack your bags! It just feels so homey! • Bring less home if you think you are going to buy stuff at home to bring back to campus.
• Consider deleting social media and using things like Youtube less. Not sure if these brought me true rest and deleting social media for January has been so good so far (have felt more present and less mindless scrolling/checking!).
• Sleep early!!! I definitely did not get this one down as much this break but would recommend. Self-control girl!
• Eat clean and with self-control!!! Take advantage of being at home and being able to really control what you eat more.
• Treat yo self and maybe get your nails done before going back to school? :P (My Mom and I got our nails done yesterday and Idk it just feels kinda nice and yeee :P) :)))
• Work on ya posture and building good habits and just always being accountable/”see-able” ya know :)
Don’t:
• Overstress the little things!
• Wait to do things! REALLY! Get on it girl!
• Feel bad if you can’t see everyone or if you don’t make all events (but do try to make things happen if you want and it’s possible :)).
• Take it personal if people are busy and can’t meet up.
• Stress over seeing someone or think it might not go as well (because it probably will go great and be just fine and be super nice to catch up so just go into it and embrace it! And if it doesn’t go “super well,” you always learn something and get to see people and talk and offer a listening ear and yee :)).
• Think a loss of self-control = rest. I think it’s easy to think watching a lot of Youtube or movies or eating without inhibition can bring us rest and if I’m honest, I did my fair share of watching movies/videos of this break (not too much though but more than my typical week). I think we should let ourselves “just relax” so-to-speak, but I want to remember that our ultimate rest comes from Him and for myself, at least, want to practice self-control and finding rest in building good habits and yeee. :) And also watching some movies and youtube videos maybe of course! :)
• Buy too many things that you want to bring back that your suitcase is bulging….
Yay! Just wanted to jot down some reflections. Happy second semester friends!
Saved by grace, through faith.
With love,
Joyce
Bible verse connection: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 Stumbled upon this verse the other day for some reason and really liked it so just thought I’d include it here. :)
P.S. This photo is from when a group of friends and I from my Church at home went skiing/snowboarding! So fun! :’) So much love for these people! <3 So grateful! :)
P.P.S. Break isn’t over yet technically (for Penn students at least and probably for many other colleges too)! Enjoy, take it in, make wise decisions, yayay! (Also talking to myself here! :))
P.P.P.S. The wifi on the train was pretty iffy so I wasn’t able to post then. I’m officially back on campus and can I just say I’m actually so excited and yeee wowow! :) Lessgetit and make it a gr9 semester woohoo! :’)
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