Oxford Diaries 8: Looking Up

I had a lot of expectations for my life at Oxford, and in many ways, it’s different than I thought it would be. Above all, I am surprised by how normal it is. I do groceries. I work out to YouTube videos. I go to the dentist. On most days, my life feels like just that – my same old life, normal and boring.

Then I look up, and…

Wow.

Right.

Oh my.

It’s so easy, I think, to forget where I am. Lately, I’ve been sucked into a whirlpool of work; every day an essay, interrupted only by meals and, occasionally, a trip to another library. The last week has been awful, and I forget to look up. I forget to appreciate what is, in the long run, such a small blip in my life. Such an incredible opportunity, not just for learning, but for living.

Little moments, big memories.

When I started this blog post, I thought I was going to write about how I am living multiple lives: multiple continents, multiple colleges, but still just the same, normal me. But in the process of going through photos and writing out my thoughts, I’ve actually realized how not normal my life is here. I am surrounded by opportunities for growth and a richer, more vibrant experience. I just forget to see them when I get swept away by the minutiae of my life.

So my goal for this coming week is to try something new every day. To soak up the rare and brief experience that I have here.

To notice and remember where I am, and appreciate it.