Calling on Courtney

Alrighty, it's that time of year again. The time of year everyone can reflect on what they are super thankful for. Those sappy instagram collages, the tweets about family and friends, and all typical "I'm thankful for these people" facebook posts.

The problem is that I'm thankful for way too much. Not to try and be super sappy, but I'm thankful for my whole life. Every single part of it. There is no reason not to be grateful for what I have accomplished this past year. So I've decided to comprise them into a short list so as not to brag about my life, but to collect my thoughts during this holiday season.

1. I'm glad I am a part of the Gator Nation. 



2. I am so thankful I finally got to meet my best friends in the whole world. 



3. My family is still completely crazy... and I wouldn't trade them for the world.


4. I'm grateful that Taylor Swift is in a happy relationship at this moment in time. 



5. MY CAT



6. The fact that FSU still sucks.



7. I am thankful Adele dropped her new album, and that "Hello" is the only thing still stuck in my head. 



8. I am so happy that the musical Hamilton is still sold out and tickets are $1,000,000 a piece. 



9. I'm thankful I haven't failed out of college and have to move back in with my parents and attend community college and turn into a vegetable. 



10. The fact that I'm single and focusing on me this holiday season, which means no cute gifts or cuddling when it's cold and netflix all by myself.



11. I'm so very glad that I got cast in my first show at UF, even if it did require throwing up on many people. 



12. I'm thankful that Starbucks changed their cups because now I can draw pretty pictures of Jesus on them. 



13. I am really happy that I live in a nation that cares so much about other people and their quality of life. 



14. Happy that J-Crew had a 30% off everything sale yesterday. And I'm thankful that I'm now broke as well. 



15. I'm thankful that I have such a beautiful life ahead of me. I don't want to change anything about it. 

What would you do if you had five minutes to do whatever you want? No responsibilities, no chores, no homework, no classes. Just you and five minutes of time. What would you do with a free five minutes?

I thought about this question while sitting outside on campus. I was doing an economics quiz and it was absolutely beautiful outside. As I submitted the quiz with delight, I realized that I had finished all of my responsibilities for the weekend. Obviously I could find stuff to do, if I needed to, but I took a moment to myself. I thought how beautiful the temperature of 73 degrees with the sun shining through the trees. I took notice of the people around me and thought, they all look so busy, so hurried, and so disinterested with what is going on around them.



Point of the story is that this is what I did with my five minutes. I took them all to myself, without any distractions from friends, my cell phone, teachers, or responsibilities. I just sat and reflected. And you know what? It feels pretty good.

My challenge to anyone who is reading is to take five minutes to relax and just breathe without any distraction. Five minutes isn't a lot and it definitely will not kill you. I just feel that we all get caught up in trivial things that won't matter in the next few months.

In the wise words of the great Tim Tebow, "I really try to enjoy life and have joy with what I do." And I think that's what we should all try to do.