It’s week five of the term, and we’re now in the Dog Days of summer. I find myself waking up every morning groggy, still tired from the night out before. Cakey mascara stains my eyelashes and under eyes while my muscles ache from somehow walking over 15,000 steps the previous day — from class to the river to the dining hall, to up and down frat row in search of a party.
For the first few weeks of summer, all the frat-hopping and endless days spent lounging around campus seemed to bring me a lot of joy as well as the perfect post-class relaxation. Then, sometime around week three or four of the term, the days and nights began to all bleed into one another. The routine: wake up, go to class, do some form of homework, hit the river or some random nearby town, dinner, more work, party … then wake up in the morning and do it all over again.
The wickedly humid summer air made 80-degree days feel like they were 90 degrees or over. The sobering sun beat down on my body, casting shadows on the speckled sidewalks. Often, on my way to classes, I would find my mind getting lost in these shadows.
I would find a shadow of a tree or a passerby to look at and let my mind focus on the shape — my thoughts drowning inside the shadowy pools. A moment would pass and then I would snap out of it, arriving at my destination.
In this haze, I realized my mind was trying to tell me something. My summer days have been slipping out from beneath me without me even realizing it. The key to breaking out of this loop was to end the routine. Instead of socializing, I decided to rest: for the first time in four weeks, I stayed in last weekend. I ordered Domino’s and stuffed my face with garlic knots while watching “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.” My soul and my liver much enjoyed the break from a beer-covered basement.
I began going to the gym daily with one of my close friends. I still don’t think I’m a gym rat, nor will I ever be, but it is fun having a place to just exist with my thoughts and music on a treadmill for 45 minutes. This break in routine meant that I have also opened new doors, planning trips to Cape Cod and somehow actually finding time to binge-watch TV — I am so close to finishing the seventh season of “Dexter.”
But most importantly, I started writing again. For me, writing is the ultimate test of whether or not I am in a good state of mind. When I write, it is not for anybody else: just for me. Writing is a way to let my subconscious breathe; without it, I often feel stuck or lost in my own world. This past weekend, I sat in my dorm and pulled my chair up to the window so I could feel the sun on my legs as I wrote for an hour. That was the most peaceful moment of the summer so far for me. Peace is what summer should be about.
And while the crazy days and wilder nights of summer continue, we here at Mirror hope that everyone on campus finds their own little peace of mind this summer, whatever that may be. This week’s Mirror, much like my vibe lately, is more laidback with fun and restful reads, perfect for the mean and hot dog days ahead. Check out a new cooking column piece by editors Kent Friel and Vidushi Sharma for sweet relaxation, or dive into a new “Freak of the Week” if you’re looking for something a little more thrilling.
Whether you’re reading this week’s articles from the rocks of a random swimming hole or the comfort of an air-conditioned dorm, I hope Mirror delivers you a little peace this week.
Yaniya Gilford '27 is a staff writer for both Mirror and news. She is from Chicago, Ill., and is double-majoring in English and Government. On campus, Yaniya is involved in the First-Generation community and Greek life. Yaniya has a passion for creative writing and plans to pursue a career in the field.
