So recently when I’ve gone to my fave spot, Whispers, I’ve been drinking in the fall air, loving that I can wear my boots and finally see beautiful scarves properly used for their functionality and warmth instead of their usual sordid summer job as a hickey-hider. The fall season also means that I like to take naps outside. After a recent nap, I was violently awakened to realize that I was not alone, for there were tree climbers climbing the tree I was napping in, and some of them had what appeared to be tree-cessories like pillows and such.

The reason I mention the tree-people is not at all important, but the point is that on that particular fall afternoon I thought that I was completely alone. I thought that my outdoor nap was wonderful because I was by myself. I think in this day and age, for one reason or another, informal societal norms tell us that it is not acceptable for young people to spend time alone or to reflect. Most Wash. U. students do not have the me-time that I force myself to have once or twice a week. During my me-time I like to reflect on my successes, my failures and how perfect I am. It gives me a chance to clear my head and figure out the person that I want to be. Sometimes I journal, other times I spend hours on campus, people-watching students like yourselves.

I think if more people stopped to reflect at this campus, then the world would fill with smiles and flowers and candy canes and narwhals frolicking in the pond by art hill. I think there is some truth to my prediction because due to this week’s reflection I had at The Bean (Art lovers know it as Cloud Gate) in Chicago, I was able to awaken to the fact that I have not been pursuing the things I want most in life. I have been too afraid that my passions would not be viewed as intellectual in the eyes of ostentatious Wash. U. pre-med students (who aren’t even certified to give flu shots, so who do they think they are anyways?) and other snarky smarty-farty types.

During that same me-time session, I was able to recall the advice the Can of Vegetables gave to Gene in my favorite movie, Wet Hot American Summer. The Can says, “If you wanna smear mud on your ass, smear mud on your ass, just be honest about it.” While that particular advice does not directly apply to me for what I hope are obvious reasons, I can say that quote reminded me that I should do whatever the heck I want because I’m a young, fine, chocolate honey with no limits. If I want to have my me-time in the trees outside of Whispers while spying on innocent nappers, then I sure as heck should. If I want to be a book critic or a consultant or a soccer shoe designer, then I sure as heck should.

Call me aggressive, tell me to calm down, but I can’t stop, won’t stop. If you try and keep up with me, you won’t be able to because I just bought new Nikes. As much as I love my friends, my me-time has made me an unstoppable superhero and I want you to be one too. All you gotta do is grab your favorite book (for the economists and lit lovers, I recommend Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice) and spend an hour or five me-timing it up harder than you partied this weekend. I promise immediate, positive results…just stay away from my tree outside of Whispers.