By Jake R. Goldblum
I like to say “Life is pretty cool,” a lot. Sometimes people ask me what I mean by that, but mostly they just ignore it like most things I say (rightfully so in most cases I suppose.) So, what do I mean when I say this expression? I don’t randomly throw the saying around at will. Most of the time I say it when I’m feeling really good about something in my life (that happens a lot because I’m a very fortunate person thanks to those around me.) I guess this phrase is my equivalent to “Life is good.”
What’s so “cool” about my life though? On one hand, I don’t come from an affluent background. I’m not the biggest, tallest, or most attractive guy in town; and life hasn’t always been the easiest. On the other hand, I have the opportunity to go to an amazing university where I am around thousands of highly intellectual people. I have the opportunity to work with hundreds of students on a daily basis, where I have the opportunity to help them become more effective people. I have the opportunity to have amazing friends and relationships with people who have made me a better person.
On a less deep note, I have the opportunity to exercise daily and do yoga (which is really tough by the way.) I have the opportunity to listen to artists like John Butler, O.A.R. and Katy Perry (yes that Katy Perry.) I have the opportunity to go to my fraternity house and hangout until four in the morning. I have that same opportunity in the staff office of my residence hall (which happens quite frequently.) I have the opportunity to laugh and cry with friends who are graduating. I also have the opportunity to graduate myself and reminisce with friends about great times we’ve had together. I have the opportunity to make people smile. I have the opportunity to call several friends/mentors and tell them I love them. I have the opportunity to call a father, grandmother and grandfather and tell them I love them.
I have had the opportunity to be a student, teacher, brother, son, mentor, mentee, friend, lover, leader, exercise buff, music fiend, night owl, morning hater, dancer, reader, author, experimenter, test subject, advisor, advisee, and so so much more. I have had many opportunities and have taken advantage of them all. I feel as though I have been pretty lucky, and that my life really has been pretty cool. Maybe we should stop and sit back sometimes and realize how lucky we really are. Maybe we should start living our lives in the moment and actively engaged with the world around us. Maybe we should start living for the four AM conversations, because hey, who knows maybe those will make someone else’s life pretty cool.
I like to say “Life is pretty cool,” a lot. Sometimes people ask me what I mean by that, but mostly they just ignore it like most things I say (rightfully so in most cases I suppose.) So, what do I mean when I say this expression? I don’t randomly throw the saying around at will. Most of the time I say it when I’m feeling really good about something in my life (that happens a lot because I’m a very fortunate person thanks to those around me.) I guess this phrase is my equivalent to “Life is good.”
What’s so “cool” about my life though? On one hand, I don’t come from an affluent background. I’m not the biggest, tallest, or most attractive guy in town; and life hasn’t always been the easiest. On the other hand, I have the opportunity to go to an amazing university where I am around thousands of highly intellectual people. I have the opportunity to work with hundreds of students on a daily basis, where I have the opportunity to help them become more effective people. I have the opportunity to have amazing friends and relationships with people who have made me a better person.
On a less deep note, I have the opportunity to exercise daily and do yoga (which is really tough by the way.) I have the opportunity to listen to artists like John Butler, O.A.R. and Katy Perry (yes that Katy Perry.) I have the opportunity to go to my fraternity house and hangout until four in the morning. I have that same opportunity in the staff office of my residence hall (which happens quite frequently.) I have the opportunity to laugh and cry with friends who are graduating. I also have the opportunity to graduate myself and reminisce with friends about great times we’ve had together. I have the opportunity to make people smile. I have the opportunity to call several friends/mentors and tell them I love them. I have the opportunity to call a father, grandmother and grandfather and tell them I love them.
I have had the opportunity to be a student, teacher, brother, son, mentor, mentee, friend, lover, leader, exercise buff, music fiend, night owl, morning hater, dancer, reader, author, experimenter, test subject, advisor, advisee, and so so much more. I have had many opportunities and have taken advantage of them all. I feel as though I have been pretty lucky, and that my life really has been pretty cool. Maybe we should stop and sit back sometimes and realize how lucky we really are. Maybe we should start living our lives in the moment and actively engaged with the world around us. Maybe we should start living for the four AM conversations, because hey, who knows maybe those will make someone else’s life pretty cool.
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