Slowing down

Have you ever had one of those weeks that by the end of it you are just so glad the weekend is here? Well, this week was like that. I had papers and readings and some more readings and some more. To top that I had meetings and had to work on my resume and resume the job hunt, which in fact is a full time job. Half way through the week I was burnt out. Just as I was about to recover from my mental exhaustion, I remembered I was to be at a conference yesterday and today. Graduate school is really bad for your health. You are overworked, stressed and seldom have a life outside of school. So when you find the slightest window, you fight with all odds to enjoy it. Don't get me wrong, I love school. But I still need some downtime like everyone else.

For me this week two natural events forced me to slow down. One was the lunar eclipse. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. We turned it into a social event of sorts and instead of watching it alone, four of us decided to suffer together in the intense cold and enjoy this sighting. It was breathtaking.

The second event was a snowstorm yesterday. I know a lot of people who hate snow. To me it has a pristine beauty. The whole world seems to stop- literally and metaphorically. I feel a smile forming on my face as I walk out into a snowstorm. The flakes rapidly float down to the earth and the few ones that fall on my face melt the moment they touch; as if shying away. In no time, the ground is covered with a sheet of white. It's a soothing sight and it makes me feel relaxed. The best time to go snow-watching is when people still haven't rushed out to shovel it because it's spotless and unwrinkled. It was a long week. I usually drag my feet from the T stop to my house but today I caught myself jumping in the snow and resisting the temptation to roll in it. Contrary to what many would say, it was a good way to end my week. And now for some more down time.