Walking On Campus: An Exercise in Gratitude
By Zeke Shomler
Photo by Nóra McIntyre
Nearly every day, I walk from my apartment in Hess Village down to the Gruening building where I teach and take classes. Usually, I have headphones on, listening to a podcast or playlist, zoning out and forgetting the world around me.
This week, however, I have been thinking a lot about gratitude: how we are surrounded by things that we can be thankful for, if we only notice them. I challenged myself to walk without headphones and notice fifty things during my seven-minute walk that I can be thankful for.
It’s easy—and important, in the right contexts—to focus on the ways things are going badly in this world. But real conscious engagement with changes that need to be made must be balanced with a recognition of the world’s beauty. Part of it is taking care of yourself—if you don’t notice good things in the world, you will burn out very quickly. Gratitude is a means of self-care. But it also helps as we fight for things that need to be changed: if we are only filled with anger and intent on tearing things down, what will we have to rebuild with?
This gratitude is a kind of mindfulness. It involves slowing down, noticing the world around you, and being intentional about the way you engage with it.
Here is my list of fifty things I am thankful for during my brief walk through campus:
The facilities employees who clear the paths for us to walk on
My neighbor, who cleared our porch for us
Long sunrises during the winter months
Hills for sledding on
Crows, swooping and laughing
Paw prints in the snow as evidence of fluffy friends
The intricate pattern of leafless trees against the sky
The jacket keeping me warm
The perfect white untouched snow on roofs
Icicles
Birch tree knots that look like eyes
The way the snow sparkles in the sun
The view of the Tanana Valley from up here on Troth Yeddha’
Clouds reflecting pink-orange light
My winter boots, which help to keep me from slipping
The way people approaching me on the sidewalk will nod and smile
The way the sky looks when it’s reflected in the apartment windows
The last few leaves hanging on to bare branches
Evergreens full of clumps of snow like thick white frosting
The warm coffee in my hand
The graduate school, for giving me the thermos for my coffee
My weather app, which tells me exactly when the sun will set
The air in my lungs
The ground beneath my feet
The sound of ravens flying and vocalizing
The sound of snow crunching under my feet
Squirrels playing in the tree branches
Different boot-patterns on the sidewalk, which turn into a kind of artwork
Gravel on the roads to make them drivable
The cool brick pattern on the Whitaker building
Firefighters that keep us safe
Talented medical professionals at the Health Center
The color of the sky
The cars that stop for me as I cross the street
The song stuck in my head (“Motion Sickness” by Phoebe Bridgers)
The buses and shuttles (and their drivers) that take us where we need to go
Christmas lights on the bus shelter and Wood Center patio
The warmth and welcoming environment of the Wood Center
Handrails on icy stairs
Gloves that protect my fingers
The phone in my pocket
Frost-covered tree needles
The sculpture in front of Constitution Hall (its enduring power captivates me)
The snowman in front of Constitution Hall (evidence of fun and whimsy)
The Mail Center employees who make sure I get my letters and packages
The library (and the librarians who work there)
My students and colleagues in Gruening
Double doors leading into buildings to help manage the weather
The chance to take some time, slow down, and notice things
The ability to study on a beautiful campus with amazing people!
This was not an easy task, but it was so rewarding!
I challenge you to do the same: wherever you are going today, try to notice what’s around you and take some time for gratitude. Whether that means creating a long list of fifty things or just making a mental note of one or two, the practice of gratitude can be a valuable way to connect with yourself, be mindful, and take note of the small ways we are blessed every single day.