Finding happiness in the little things in life
Inspired and taken from my Notes app.
- March 13 8:02 p.m.
As I sat at No Thai with my sister for dinner, I waited patiently for my crab rangoons. When the staff called a loud 87 from behind the counter and I saw the plate, I felt a jolt of excitement like a small child eating ice cream on a sunny day. They were the perfect combination of cheese and crab and crunch. It was fascinating.
- March 14 11:04 p.m.
Joe’s pizza I ate was hot and just what I needed on a chilly night after chapter, surrounded by my friends. Sometimes when I’m surrounded by people in a noisy environment, I take a moment to let the feeling of being wanted overwhelm me. These people want me here, just like I want to be there.
- March 15 8:52
The birds were chirping an unfamiliar tune on the way to class, so I pulled out my Airpods to listen to their music instead of mine.
- March 15 6:58 p.m.
As I walked out of the kinesiology building to go to dinner, I could feel the happiness radiating from everyone like the rays of the sun. It was as if the air was charged with something electric, creating a lively atmosphere that made me feel alive.
- March 15 7:35 p.m.
My body was warm in the small study hall after striding from No Thai, sweat coating my neck from the sunny day outside. My seeyu pad was still smoking when I opened the lid. Separating the chopsticks I found there was plenty of broccoli and egg, just the way I like it.
- March 16 12:28 p.m.
I sat up in my bed and heard the birds. As I closed my eyes to soak in their chirps, I realized they were slowly becoming my favorite sound.
- March 16 5:32 p.m.
It looked like a real college campus, seeing people hammocking and playing frisbee and spikeball, smiling and running. They appreciated the beauty of youth, even in the midst of a campus that moves so quickly and defines success by how many internships someone has and how well they scored on the previous exam. But by then it seemed like everyone had put their responsibilities aside for the day and it felt like we were all in the same boat.
- March 17 3:00 p.m.
Because I couldn’t fail to participate, I was one of those people who hammocked and smiled. Every time the sun broke through the clouds, everyone seemed a little happier than before. It was my turn to taste this beauty of youth because it is not often served, or perhaps rather, I do not take advantage of opportunities when they arise because I am so focused on deadlines and future responsibilities. I hadn’t seen so many carefree smiles in a long time, so I wanted to be part of that cloud of youth that enveloped everyone.
- March 19 12:09 a.m.
Came home from a big/small reveal and was supposed to go out with my friend even though I wasn’t up for it so when she admitted she didn’t want to go out either it was like a mixture of relief and a moment when our friendship grew stronger. It was a telepathic connection where we both thought the same thing but were afraid of disappointing each other, so that open honesty made us even happier.
- March 20 6:14 p.m.
Sitting in the classroom waiting for my turn to present in the next room was much less insufferable after opening a box of chocolate Lucky Charms and excitedly tearing open the bag. They turned out to be better than the original type. I took a few out of the box and passed them to my friends next to me, and luckily I had more marshmallows than cereal.
- March 20 7:30 p.m.
The No Thai order was only $10 instead of $11.66 so I didn’t have to deal with change and cash all over my pockets.
- March 20 9:15 p.m.
When I took off my heels and put on my socks and Reeboks, I felt the instant relief that my toes were no longer crushed.
- March 21 7:57 p.m.
In another encounter with my professional heels, they didn’t fight with me and slipped on easily instead of getting stuck on the heel of my foot like they always do. I didn’t even have to sit down and pinch my finger between the shoe and my foot.
- March 22 10:22 a.m.
In my rush to get out of my apartment and get to my appointment on time, my hair cooperated instead of being a mad struggle. I got the perfect coin line on my first shot and was able to do it in time.
- March 22 9:51 p.m.
My HopCat order did not come with any silverware, but then I found some chopsticks in my backpack with which I was able to enjoy the food even though it had gone cold.
- March 23 5:29 p.m.
Someone held the door for me and complimented my hairstyle and outfit. Enough said. It always makes me smile.
Remembering to appreciate the little things that happen has kept me grounded. It makes the bad times less bad and the good times even better. These events may seem insignificant to someone else because they don’t apply to their life, but they mean the world to me. They are little bits and pieces of sporadic instances that remind me to reflect and be grateful, which is so important because it allows us to turn off that autopilot and truly be present with what we find happiness in. They are little pieces of life that show me how, even if it is raining or windy or freezing, I am here in this world where the birds will still be chirping tomorrow morning.
MiC columnist Hannah Nguyen can be reached at [email protected]