Before my beloved Xangans berate me for my extended absence, allow me to post this. Then we'll catch up. I really hope you all are well.

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A few weeks ago, on a Thursday morning, I awoke earlier than usual to stop at the library before classes. A friend wanted me to meet her for breakfast at the restaurant located in the library, and I had some papers that I could get printed off while I was there. Mornings and I do well together on some levels, so I was only groggy for a few of minutes. As I dressed for the day, I noted with joy that it was a little nippy outside, making this the first morning I was justified for wearing my coat. I gathered my books and keys, and while buttoning my coat my cell phone started ringing.

It was a call from my little sister, but apparently her phone had pushed buttons while in her purse and just happened to call me. Feeling curious, I decided to stay on the phone and listen. Over the rustling I could hear her getting ready to leave for school. I could hear the familiar squeaky sound of the coat closet door in our hallway, my siblings and Mum exchanging farewells and "I Love Yous," and it was a relief of sorts. Things at home are hard, and yet they were clearly functioning well. I listened to Juliana leave the house and walk the two blocks to school, the blocks I used to walk every day, and finally I hung up smiling, because it was one of the closest things to seeing my family without being physically present.

I proceeded to walk to the library, and when a small gust of wind blew I contentedly stuffed my hands into my large coat pockets (oh, it felt so good to have them there). I approached the library, which is a rather impressive edifice as it is, I stopped frozen in my tracks. The high windows were ablaze in the red morning sun, and the sunlight filtered through leaves overhead and as I stood awestruck by the beauty of the world, Phish's song "Bliss" came on.

So here I am. Suspended in the middle of this campus walk in the whirl of gleaming sunlight and brilliance, with serene and wonderful thoughts because my family is alive and well! and they love each other! and I only have two classes today and my coat is so warm and it's double-breasted and I love double-breasted coats more than I love milk and cereal and Oh My GOSH look at those birds, flying in a perfect formation as if they've practiced their entire lives for this one morning in which they'd fly across the campus and wow That sunlight is in my eyes but I don't care because my eyes are taking in something so majestic I wouldn't do them the injustice of shying away and I am so proud to say that I'm about 3 1/2 minutes away from walking into that stunning building because this is my school and this is where I study and this is where I live and this Phish song is so flipping amazing I swear they wrote this for me on my walk this morning...

I went to breakfast that morning, had an amazing omelette, and thought to myself, "If there are any people on this Earth more satisfied with their life than me, I can count them on one hand."

It was a gift. That whole Thursday morning, was a gift. I could not have possible predicated what happened to me the morning, and the sense of well-being and happiness I became overwhelmed with.

But I realized that, in order to receive that gift on that Thursday morning, I had to get myself out of bed for the phone call (I would have hung up had I stayed in bed and answered only to discover that Julie really had nothing to say), I had to make the rather long walk to the library in order to make it on time to see that sunrise at just the perfect moment, I had to wake up early enough when it was cold enough to wear the coat and to be able to eat at library's restaurant whey they still had their breakfast menu available with my omelette.

Since then, I have gone to the library several more times. None of the mornings have been quite as blissful since that first.

However, if I don't continue get out of bed for the omelette, I am denying myself the opportunity to be filled with joy, contentment, and clarity about life. There are gifts out there to be had, to be treasured, to uplift. Whether they are in people, in a career, in nature, or in just about anything. But the things that will reward the most will not just appear every time, like they did to me on that Thursday morning. That Thursday morning was a demonstration for me, a sign that there is something I need to be waking up for in the morning. And yes, there are mornings when I am disastrously tired from a long night of papers and lab reports, and there are mornings when the printer in the library is jammed and the consultant stands there awkwardly not knowing what to do until I have to fix it, and there are mornings when even the omelette is too greasy for my liking.

But I know, that because I'm getting up, and doing my best to find the pleasurable things in the world, such as brushing my teeth twice in the morning for good measure, putting on that favorite coat of mine and finding my favorite music playlist to commute with, I am FAR closer to finding that contentment again compared to lying in bed wondering when I'm going to be hit with a perfect morning again.

And so when I've had a day that wasn't exactly glorious, I tell myself, "Laryssa, it's time you got yourself up for an omelette." I start doing everything I can, to put myself back into a place where I am content. Why? Because I am not gifted so well that often, but often enough to where I know that I am living for something. Something important. Something huge. But I cannot live my life waiting for that Huge thing to just manifest itself; that is not the way it works. I have to be living my life doing small things to get where I want, even if it's as simple as waking up early enough to get a hearty breakfast before class.

Pursue what will make you happy. Even if it's not always going to work out the way you'd like it to, you're at least practicing for when the real deal, the Big Kahuna Omelette of a blessing, comes along.