Leanna B.
Photography by Katie Fox
If you’re reading this, this too shall pass.
One thing that has helped me tremendously in my time in college is knowing that everything is impermanent. I know that sounds scary at first. We don’t like when things end. But they do. Buddhists argue that to create and have attachments to people and things is only to create more suffering for yourself because it goes against the fact of impermanence. This can be true. It is hard to lose things that bring you joy and connection. I don’t personally think that we should have no attachments because loving things is what brings life joy.
What I do agree with is putting these attachments in perspective. Accepting that the entity or being you love will not always be there can make loss easier. This acceptance creates a space for you to foster a deeper appreciation and awareness of the present and everything around you. You will want to dive deeper into every moment of your existence because it will only last for so long. You cannot make it stay longer. You can make it mean more.
Now, let’s ponder for a moment. Imagine (or nod your head in agreement because this is real life for you) the following.
You’re really stressed because this week is hectic: you have several assignments, you have to volunteer, you have to go to meetings, you have social plans, etc. etc. You, dear reader, may also be an undergraduate student, and you know good and well what this life is like. Now, I want you to think about a previous week like this. Maybe it was last week. Maybe it was last semester. Did you make it through? Clearly, you did because you’re reading this right now. You had the strength and resilience to make it through that week. I promise you can make it through this one. And the next one. And the next. With everything being impermanent, so too is this tumultuous week. Time will go on. You will emerge on the other end, stronger and better for it.
Things may be dark for you right now. It might be a lot more than just a stressful week. I see you, and I am here for you, dear reader. Know that things cannot remain dark forever because what goes down must go up. It’s physics. It’s impermanent. I know that’s easier to say than to imagine sometimes. But hear me when I say, this too shall pass.
Leanna B., Wake Forest
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