You’ve caught me in a rather heightened state of stress this week, Mirror. Among other things, waking up in the middle of the night due to the newly sub-40 degree temperatures, having to guess my way through a midterm at 8:50 a.m. last Wednesday and finding a topic for this week’s Editor’s Note have all made their way onto my recent list of stressors.
However, I unfortunately do not have anything original to say about stress right now, likely because stress is not exactly conducive to creativity. So in an effort to redirect my energy away from my current anxieties and toward some happier thoughts, I have instead chosen to remember some recent moments — in no particular order — that have brought me joy, no matter how little or temporary.
On Saturday, Foco’s dessert station had a tray of cornbread. This may not mean much to anyone except those who know about my massive cornbread phase five or six years ago. “My favorite food is cornbread” was even my fun fact at some point. It didn’t taste spectacular, but the fact that I previously associated the dessert with such enjoyment was enough for me.
A few weeks ago, I purchased a necklace with a butterfly charm from the Norwich Farmer’s Market. The charm is a beautiful off-white color and the necklace is made of a black cord, which I’ve always loved the look of, but perhaps the most special thing about this necklace is its clasp. Whereas normal necklace clasps hook one end of the necklace into a loop on the other end, and are often some of the most frustrating things to exist, this one screws together the two ends! That may be the very first exclamation point I’ve attempted to publish in this newspaper, which should say something about just how big of a deal this screw-clasp is. Every necklace from now on should be made like this, and every necklace that does not already have such a mechanism should immediately replace its clasp with one.
For the past few months, I’ve been having a bowl of Foco steel cut oats with a mashed banana almost every day I’ve been on campus. Despite having had the same combination for this long, it somehow keeps tasting better. My perfect bowl of mashed banana oats is warm, chewy and contains just the right amount of natural sweetness from a ripe banana, but even an imperfect bowl — with slightly cooled oats or a less ripe banana — is still a deeply satisfying start to my morning.
I ran into two ’25s and a ’24 on campus for Homecoming. I don’t think I interacted with any of them for more than a minute each, but an unexpected friendly face will never fail to bring me a moment of lightness.
There are few things on Earth better than the sound of tight, precisely composed and executed harmonies. As the music director for Displaced Theatre Company’s upcoming production of “Ride the Cyclone,” I have the privilege of being serenaded by some of the most beautiful voices that also happen to belong to immensely kind and passionate souls. What a rare gift it is to get to work through such a stunning, complex score with people who care as much about it as I do.
Since I have not been able to sing with the Glee Club for most of this term due to a health issue, several members have told me that I was missed in some way or another. They may have only said so to be polite, but I don’t think doubting others’ extensions of community does anyone any good. I’ve decided to believe people when they tell me that my presence carries meaning.
I got to pull out my scarves for the first time in months — an upside to the aforementioned chilliness. I missed you, scarves, and I think you deserve more appreciation. Not only do you keep my neck warm, you also often add the perfect accent to my outfit. What a wonderful invention you are.
It’s nothing groundbreaking — the practice of appreciating the small things. But the fact remains that it’s hard. When you’re so consumed by something that you trap yourself in your head, it’s almost impossible to regain perspective, to remember that rarely are things all bad. Even so, it might be worth giving it a shot anyway.
This week in Mirror, we strive for balance as we dive into the many quirks that make this campus come to life. One writer investigates the culture surrounding “the Hugh,” Collis’ secret breakfast sandwich, as another writer speaks to students about their choice of Dartmouth Dining meal plans. Overseas, a writer examines how students studying abroad in London are navigating the newest chapter of their college experience while back on campus, another writer gathers female gym-goers’ thoughts on the restructuring of the upstairs area of the gym previously known as “Girl Gym.” Finally, our relationship advice column, “Freak of the Week,” returns with a take on a reader’s dilemma about a relationship up in the air.
Wishing you well this Week 5, Mirror. Take care of yourselves.
Vivian Wang ’27 is a Mirror editor and writer from the California Bay Area pursuing majors in Psychology and Music. In addition to journalism, she enjoys experimenting with storytelling in its many other forms, from arranging music to playwriting.
