As we are now only four days away from the start of spring, I have been reflecting on some of the challenges of winter and what lies ahead. Just this last week, I was able to have a restful spring break away from DC and the stressors of law school, and I couldn’t feel more grateful for that. However, as I started to land again in my favorite city, where so many of my greatest pressures also lie, I began having some pretty severe heart palpitations. I’ve now forced myself to take a little while to truly rest and reset, and that’s something I think is so important for all of us.
As a budding adult and a person in my first year post-grad, just living life can be incredibly daunting. It’s moments like those when I reflect on how much pressure our world and society place on us every single day. Never more than when you are freshly out of the comforts of college and facing the next steps of your real life, are coping mechanisms and support systems more important. I have been missing my home in North Carolina and my family so desperately. It is crazy to think just how much distance only seven hours can cause. I am used to the comforts of driving home every few weeks to see my family, walk my dogs, and play some tennis. Those are things that are gone for now.
Sometimes it can feel like I cannot fully wallow in my homesickness, because how fortunate am I to be where I am now? Living in the capital, in law school, pursuing every dream I’ve ever had. It is truly a gift, but it is also important to allow ourselves to feel sad, uncomfortable, or like we miss the comforts of home. I began having palpitations because I was thinking not about how exciting my life is, but about how I have to constantly pick myself up, keep myself going, and face every day with my head held high. I think this is something everyone faces, but especially those of us who are in a massive transition period.
As the cherry blossoms begin to bloom in DC, the sun stays high for longer, and everything begins to feel brighter and lighter, I am going to push myself to prioritize those little things that give comfort among the chaos. I try to remind myself that these uncomfortable moments are also the ones where the most growth happens. Learning how to steady yourself when life feels overwhelming is a skill that no classroom can teach. I think that is something we should all push ourselves to do and to allow ourselves to be honest and vulnerable. Maybe that looks different for everyone. For some, it might be calling a family member, taking a long walk, or writing it all out. Whatever it is, those small acts of comfort matter more than we sometimes realize.
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