New Goal: Living for Others

Lately I've noticed how much of my time is spent thinking about my stuff. My piano, my trumpet, my homework, my problems, my stress...when I stopped to actually think about how much time I spend thinking about all my things it was quite surprising. I realized that I hardly ever think about how my friends are doing, or whether the people I meet are adjusting to college all right, or about whether my roommate's making new friends. I think that all this adjusting has started to make me a bit self-centered.

It is difficult to try and think about other people when there is just so much on your mind mentally and emotionally. But the thing is, all first years are probably feeling like this. Or, at least a good majority. So if we're all feeing overwhelmed, and none of us have the energy to help others, that can be slightly problematic. For when you're overwhelmed, that's probably when you need help the most.

I'm starting to realize that I need to rewire my brain so that it thinks about others more often. I think that thinking of others more than yourself may be one of the keys to living a purposeful, meaningful life. And living such a life is what I try to strive for. It's a pretty high goal, honestly, but I think it's worth the shot to try.

It would be quite easy to say that I'll just start working on being selfless after I adjust more, after I'm less stressed, or after I make closer friendships. But what is that doing really? When will I really be less stressed? How much of a closer friendship? If adjusting takes me until semester, then I will have wasted a whole semester without even trying. All just because I'll "work on it later." It would be easy to make these excuses. But I have a feeling it'll never happen if I keep pushing it to the back burner.

I was reading a blog the other day by Adam Young, creator of the band Owl City. He said something that made me think: "I desire a steadfast, stalwart and committed life, and somehow by occasionally imagining that 'life' as a true reality in full color, I am inspired to tackle the job with more vigor than I ever have before." I think that part of my problem isn't just stress and busyness, it's that I don't see the task as completely possible. I think if I start imagining it happening, it is possible that I could actually try to do it. Although this task seems difficult in the mist of all the things in my life, I believe Paul said it best when he said "with God all things are possible."


Sarah