Monday March First.

I must say, there are not many calendrical events that I like more than when the first of the month is also the beginning of a new week. It feels like I've been presented with a clean slate on which to start fresh and improve myself. This morning, I was drinking my Tahitian Vanilla Hazelnut Tea and thinking about my goals for March. Suddenly I noticed the quote printed on the little piece of paper at the end of my tea bag. It told me to "unite with your own higher self and create a friendship."
The insight of this quote propelled me to consider the relationship I have with myself. I asked, "Self, am I friends with you?" And before you start to think I'm crazy and like to have conversations with my self-I should point out that I am indeed a bit crazy, but then, who isn't? Back to my point, I challenge you to ask your own self this question. Do you treat yourself like you would a friend? Do you encourage yourself in times of sadness, hardship, and/or stress? Do you celebrate your successes and find joy in spending time with yourself?
I found that in general, me and myself are pretty tight. But there are aspects of our friendship that I want to improve. Sometimes I'm too hard on myself, I take my own limitations for granted and don't do enough encouraging. We all have a strong inner spirit, this month, I challenge you to befriend this spirit and love yourself as you do the other people in your life.
With academic stress building around midterms and the countless other engagements you probably have, there will never be a better time to get to know yourself and always remember the advice Ralph Waldo Emerson gives us, "insist upon yourself. Be original."

Have a beautiful month of March, enjoy the coming Springtime weather, and try to strengthen that bond between you and you.

Kasandra Brown
Study Skills Coordinator