Looking a bit deeper

Sarah Miller
MSMU Class of 2026

(2/2023) It is hard to think of winter as more than a dark and cold season. In literature, tales like "Sir Gawain and The Green Knight" are told amid the long cold winter season. Actually, one of the reasons why the story was so popular was to brighten spirits during the season. Many do have a hard time during this dark season, and finding the good is crucial for overall wellness. But really, what are some things to look forward to in these cold winter months, especially after the holidays?

Personally, I don’t know why people aren't as fond of the winter season. Winter brings beautiful snow and views that people love to see. It brings people together through snuggling close around a fire, or through an act of communion where many indulge hot chocolate together. The love we feel for others can be accentuated due to external factors. In the heat of the summer, many don't want to snuggle close because of the sweltering heat, and weather can be so extreme that people lose houses from hurricanes or storms. In the winter, snow just falls onto houses, and maybe you will be lucky and have off work for a day. Many don't really appreciate the small entities that winter brings and the buggy springtime does not, which is important to recall when the sad times do hit and we are left with our thoughts. Winter brings a lot and there is much to be thankful for, but sometimes we just need to introspect.

During the rest of winter and the new year especially, I like to think of the clean slate that the new year brings. You have the whole year to be the person that you've always wanted to be, with no one telling you otherwise. The freedom to change with the help of Mr. Time can be one of the best motivators there is. Although the beginning of another year may seem sad, mainly because it seems as if the clock is "ticking" with another whole year under your belt, don’t fret. You have time to live your life. Sometimes we may need the reminder, but with the set date of the new year and the anticipation of the new things to come, that is the greatest date to have set.

One of the new things to come is the anticipation of the longer days. After the holidays we have made it over the hill of the winter solstice and are now seeing longer days with more sunlight. With the more sunlight comes the longer stretch where we are able to get in more Vitamin D, which brings us more serotonin and happiness every day. I feel that in the winter we all have less time to be outside because the days are so short, but we’ve already hit the highest part of the curve. The days just get longer from here!

Since we all want to better ourselves for the new year, one thing to do is to really start to think about what things we can change. Maybe not just in a physical aspect but in other ways around us. One thing that I found out at the Mount is how many plastic cups that I use. I calculated it out for how many cups I would use if I had the 21 meal plan for four years of college. There are about 224 days residing at The Mount per year, times 4 years is 896, times two, since we get two drinks per meal, is about 1792 cups. If I were to multiply it with how many students go to the Mount (1741 undergraduate students), in four years at school we would use, in total, 3,119,872 cups roughly. For my new year's goal, I am going to try as hard as I can to become more sustainable. The Mount does so many things to be sustainable, especially in the use of solar panels and renewable energy, but one small step may be something that helps ever-so-slightly to having a cleaner environment. I feel that it is time to give back and be more conscious of what you do to the world around you, and especially things that you are able to cut out.

Personally, during this time of the year I also like the feeling of a new semester. It is relieving knowing that we do not have to go through a new finals week, because that was a severely stressful week for all students. During syllabus week, students get to cruise and really get familiar with the classes that they are taking. The new start and new classes, with new teachers is not only refreshing, but fun. You get to make new connections with people who you have interacted with before and experience new things. A new semester brings new beginnings and habits that can better affect everyone. One of the greatest highlights of the second semester for me is going to Target and picking out a new 2023 planner and some vibrant new pens. The new planner represents the clean slate that you have in the new year. You get to write your own story and plans, and the most important thing that should be taken into account is your happiness in a time that may seem to have less things to look forward to.

Although it may seem that we do not have many things to look forward to, we do; it just takes a bit more time to find it. Likewise, there are many things that we need to believe in to know that they are there. We need to believe in ourselves to make a change and develop a schedule so we do find true happiness that is beyond the cold winter months. You are the person that is in charge of your happiness and goals. The hardest part, though, is sticking to it. Devise a plan and take action, so that you can make the most out of your year; because, the days are getting longer, and day by day, the year comes to an end. You are what you make of yourself.