Getting Lost

Spring has sprung in Durham, it seems.  This weekend was beautiful and sunny, with temperatures hovering around 70-ish, and the warm rays flooding down from the cloudless sky left me itching to get outside and do something. 

However, my piles of homework and responsibilities left me with a somewhat contradicting itch.  While other friends were out in D.C. doing the job-fair thing, or discussing beach trips to take advantage of the sunshine, assignments left me once again chained to the computer.  So much so that a trip to Staples Business Depot to pick up computer paper and ink for my printer seemed like a break.

So, after enticing my restless roommate to join me, off we went to the land of office supplies, writing implements and fun paper clips.  We roamed the aisles like efficient hunter/gatherers, searching out the best deals on printer paper and ballpoint pens.

Back in the car after making my purchases, with the sun-roof open, tunes blasting and the wind in my face, I just couldn't face the idea of staring at a computer screen again.  So, instead of turning left towards home, I did perhaps my favorite thing to do...  I picked a direction and just continued driving, hoping to get lost.

Now, those of you who know me will know that I have a terrible sense of direction to begin with, so getting lost is more of an inevitability than a choice... but regardless, it's always fun. And sometimes it brings me to the most incredible places.  And, when I'm done being lost, I always have my trusty GPS unit to help me find my way home again!

So, after some random turns, we found ourselves traveling winding country roads, chattering happily and just enjoying life. All the worries from the past week and prickly details about assignments or homework flowed out of the sun-roof and into the blue sky, dispersing and fluttering away like a million dusty moths.

After about half an hour of driving, we pulled onto a side road to turn around, only to find a beautiful public park bordering the Eno River.  Taking advantage of our unexpected find, we quickly parked the car, hopped out, and proceeded to explore.  We walked over grassy hills, crossed some streams on quaint foot-bridges, and sat and hung out by the river, watching children and parents skipping stones and fishing.

After a while, the responsibilities waiting back home began whispering to me again, reminding me of the work still yet to be done.  Reluctantly, we got back in the car and rejoined the real world.

Since grad school is admittedly busy and everyone has packed schedules, sometimes it's easy to forget that we all need a break sometimes.  Whether it's just going out for a walk, meeting friends for coffee, or taking a day-trip to the coast, making time for yourself is a necessity in the quest for sanity.  So, to all those grad students sitting in front of computers, worrying about what assignment you should work on next, I urge you to save your work, log off, and move away from the computer.  Get outside! Clear the moths out of your brain! Have some fun!

And most of all, remember: some of the best adventures can start with just a trip to the store.