Finding comfort in discomfort

In the coming-of-age stories we read in high school, university was presented as a place in which we would finally be comfortable with ourselves. Suddenly, when thrown into a much larger group of peers, you would somehow find groups of people more like yourself. For many, this is not the case. University can be an isolating experience. There is this desire to feel comfortable in the university setting, while having to quickly become accustomed to the various teaching styles of your professors, not to mention perhaps a new living experience or living away from home. This is why we encourage you to seek comfort in any way that you can. For us, meeting with friends, whether virtually or in-person in a safe way, has provided us with some relaxation through connection. We want to share those feelings with you with this issue, and we hope that reading the words of others can help you feel less alone.

You might have thought that you’d be walking to class as the leaves fall, and that by October, you’d be drinking tea inside a cafe with friends, both new and old. Unfortunately, things are different this year. The standards that you held for yourself and others last year shouldn’t be the same ones you hold now. This moment, especially, calls for reflections on what really matters to you. It’s not enough to say that by simply focusing on the positive, we can overcome the anxiety, sadness, and anger we feel all around us. The easing grief doesn’t mean we can’t acknowledge its deep wounds.

But that doesn’t mean we should give up on finding some sort of fulfillment in this new way of living. What matters is that we all keep going together and caring for each other, even when we are at our worst. We know it’s easier said than done. Giving strength to ourselves first is necessary in order to be able to be there for each other. Patience and understanding are key to communicating and working together on anything right now. We need to acknowledge that everyone copes in different ways, and we need to realize that self-care is often hard work.

We all have things that make our lives a little bit better. If music is your source of comfort, why not listen to Olivia Hsuen-Farris’ comfort playlist in Arts and Culture? Or maybe Sooyeon Lee’s Feature, “What I owe to myself,” can remind you to love yourself and feel comfortable in your skin if you need a confidence boost. If you’re interested in the psychological science behind comfort, Shysta Sehgal’s piece, “A scientific look at our happy places,” will provide you with a digestible explanation of the brain’s fear and comfort processes. Masks have been a pertinent topic this summer and now into fall; if your mask is starting to feel more or less comfortable as the time goes by, you should still be wearing one to protect others if you’re able. Read about why in Kellie Weisse’s News piece, “Comfortable or not, wear a mask.”

We hope you find comfort in this issue and remember to take time for yourself away from classes. Stay safe and do things you enjoy. We’re rooting for you.

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