Just the other day, I was talking to a friend out of pure coincidence, and I realized a couple of things that I think are important for you, dear reader. Bear with me through a less sarcastic version of myself this week.
Walking around campus late at night, I ran into a friend. Not someone I hadn’t seen in ages, but someone I hadn’t had the chance to have a proper conversation with in quite some time. We were talking about, well, life in general, and more specifically, about how much we underestimate its duration. Life is long, quite long actually, and certainly not always easy. A groundbreaking observation, I know.
That is precisely why I think it is important not to make it any harder for ourselves. Don’t turn life into a chore that you are constantly trying to finish. Especially here at Bilkent, where our existence is through assignments, midterms, finals and the occasional precious week when none of those are happening. We are always waiting for something to be over, and somewhere in between all that waiting, good things happen, too.
Now, a little context is necessary.
I have what I like to call a Word Journal. It initially started as a notebook for unfamiliar words I encountered while reading or listening to people. However, somewhere along the way, it turned into a collection of memorable, occasionally profound, but mostly hilarious things people around me say. And, for the sake of objective journalism, I tend not to include myself in it. Because someone has to maintain editorial integrity around here.
I genuinely recommend keeping something similar, by the way. It’s rather nice to have an archive of moments you didn’t even realize would become memories.
But here’s the thing.
While talking to my friend, I found myself wishing I had kept another journal, one dedicated specifically to the good things. Not necessarily funny things or memorable quotes, but moments when I felt genuinely happy, appreciated or simply glad to be where I was.
My friend looked at me and asked, “Why don’t you?”
And that was it. Why don’t I?
I had managed to create an entire archival system including my friends’ most amazing and/or embarrassing moments, yet somehow never thought to give the positive moments the same attention. Priorities, right?
We remember the exam that went terribly, the awkward smile interaction with a friend’s friend, or the assignment that kept us awake until four in the morning. But what about the conversation in whispers about a funny thing during class? The feeling of skipping class when it is sunny and warm outside? Or the walk back to the dorms, laughing so much that you linger in front of the dorm door?
These moments happen, too. We just rarely give them the same importance.
So, thanks to one rather spontaneous conversation on campus, I now have another journal. This one is for the good things, the small victories and the occasional realization that life has its perks, especially at Bilkent.
So I suggest we make it a habit of writing down the lovely moments — when we sit in the dining hall with its ridiculous food with our friends and remember that the moment is nice.
Oh, and don’t come after me for going soft, okay? I’ll get my sarcasm back. Apparently, realizing that I’m in my last year at Bilkent has given me a temporary appreciation for the place. How unfortunate.
