So I’ve lived on campus forever. Well not forever, but since I’ve been out of my parents house. Most of my jobs I’ve had have been on a college campus, so I’ve never had a real commute. I would go to work and go back to my dorms. In high school, I would go to work and my parents would come pick me up. With this internship, I wake up at 6:40, shower, get dressed, catch the MARC train at 7:36, sleep until we arrive, and rush to the office by 8:30am. When I’m coming home, I leave the office at 5:00pm to rush to the train by 5:15. It’s all a rush. It’s all moving quickly and try to not look like a tourist shuffle. Today’s commute went a little different once I got off the train.
Today was the first time I realized, I’m driving home from work.
The calm of sitting in my car, driving my own speed, taking my own time, and being free to my own thoughts and not racing the clock to the next train was breathtaking. As I passed Gunner’s Lake coming home, I was so tempted to pull over and just sit in that moment for a second. I’m not really that extra deep “everything is a teachable moment” person…actually I hate those people..but this was incredible. The best part of the work day is that drive home. You get that chance to reflect on your day and what’s coming for the evening. You get to experience the excitement of who you’re coming home to. Granted, I’m the first one home so I was coming home to myself, but I couldn’t resist the joy of knowing within an hour the rest of my family would join me. It was the sigh of knowing okay next I’m going to go the gym then come home and eat dinner. It was also the freedom to know that I could change those plans as I wanted to. It’s that little moment where you think about something from your day that brings a smile on your face again. I thought about decorating our cubicle with the other interns and couldn’t help but smile.
Amelia looks so proud.
I can only imagine what that drive is like for parents. I can only imagine the thrill of knowing your going to the local daycare to pick up your Crayola paint covered kids or the proud rush of navigating through traffic to get to Susie’s soccer game. I don’t know that feeling yet, but it’s one I can’t wait to experience it. I can’t wait to tell my co-workers that Thomas got sent out of class again just like his mom used to (ha! the things I’m proud of). I can’t wait to go home to the ones who I love and love me back.
I received a text on the way home asking how my day went and I couldn’t wait to get home and tell her all about it. It was a good day and that car ride was my chance to think about how good of a day it was and all the things I wanted to tell her. It was the time for me to think about what she did today and what stories she could share with me. It was a quick drive home, but in that time alone, I was able to process a day of memories and a mind full of thoughts and insights from my experiences.
What do you think about on your drive home? Are you missing these moments because you aren’t enjoying what you’re doing prior to your drive enough? Think about what you’re coming home to and get excited. Whether you’re driving, walking, bussing, or carpooling home, it’s great to have that short time to say ahhhhh today I did something amazing in my place of work or my school and now I get to go home and spend that time with loved ones (yourself included).
I’m spending my time sitting crisscross applesauce in my underwear with a fan blowing on me. Why? Because that’s what I want to do!
Amelia wants you to watch this youtube video. She doesn’t know yet, but we are going to reenact it.
This is just the beginning of our decorating
We also made cubbies today! Amelia and Matt are quite the interior designers….
Matt is a really good counter.
Today was all about office cleanup. It was fun. We stapled, collated, counted, and other crazy stuff. #NASPAInterns. It’s great though. We had a lot of fun…a lot of laughs. I cannot complain. It feels great to be here. We also got to participate in the staff meeting which was cool. It’s cool to send the behind the scenes machines that make everything happen. There’s always a face and a heart behind work that you take for granted. Tomorrow we are going to the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders at College Park! Yeahhhhhh NASPA Conference fun.
