Editor Commentary: Enjoying more than just sunshine

On Saturday, I signed an e-mail with “Enjoy the sunshine!” in my excitement over seeing the sun once again, after what felt like 10 months of winter. The recipient of the e-mail responded to me, “That’s the only way to live.” I’ll never know if he meant to be philosophical, but the response hit me in a quite unexpected way.

For anyone who knows me, I plan everything. Everything. If I ever lost my planner, I’d be lost in life. Not only that, I do everything in advance. I like to be one step ahead. In about one month, JCU is going to make me graduate, and I have no plan. Sure I have goals, but right now I’d rather push them to the back burner.
Some days I have mini panic attacks over my lack of future planning, and other days I try to pretend I won’t have to face reality. (Unless reality really is how Bret Michaels portrays it.) Either way, the frantic emotion of a huge life change causes a sick feeling in my stomach and paranoia that I might break out in hives.

When I read the e-mailed response, “That’s the only way to live,” I suddenly realized that I can’t plan everything.
Life just doesn’t care about your plans. No matter how much I overanalyze, over plan or freak out, I’ll find a way to work out my life. That is just simple faith in myself.

The only way I’m going to survive graduation, or real life, or even this week, is by living day-to-day and enjoying what each day has to offer. Saturday had sunshine to offer, and I enjoyed every second of it. And I don’t just mean the weather. It’s not easy, but I’ve made the decision to find the sunshine in every day. Once I made that decision, I took a deep breath and felt the weight of the world lift off my shoulders. Not only can I relax and know that I don’t need the perfect career path the day after I graduate, but I can enjoy the rest of my days at JCU.
For anyone reading this, from freshmen to seniors and even faculty, whatever weight is on your shoulders, take a moment to leave it behind and find the good in today.

Somehow, when the time is right and I’m ready, I’m sure I’ll pick a career, find a job, and start down the new path to a new life.But, even when that happens, I plan to make sure each day, I enjoy the sunshine.