Thien Ly's Treks and Texts

  Every fall, I would always see instagram pictures envying the changing leaves, orange colors, and cozy vibes of other states like New York.  However, today finally felt like fall(ish)! It was so nice outside that I even sat outside to do homework which was not only super enjoyable because of the sunny and breezy weather but also fun because of the people watching. People say such absurd things when you only hear a fraction of the conversation on one end. After I decided to sit outside to do homework, I had to find a seat to do work at. I realized after finding one almost immediately that our school has so many areas to study and enjoy nature. It just goes unnoticed by most students like me who are just hurrying by and not looking around.  I have made an effort recently to notice little things I usually take for granted. For example, I am trying to notice all the little things by sister does around the house which helps me get less annoyed at her for not helping me with ...

  Entry 4: a long weekend!!! Sunday was a long day spent outside in the sun. I woke up early with my family to play tennis for two hours and later walked to panera on university and back for some studying. It’s crazy how much I have noticed since paying attention. Being outside boosts my mood so much and leads to a more energized day. I spent all day on Saturday studying inside and it was very much depressing in every aspect. I have learned that being outside is not just good for my mood but also mental health, physical health, and overall well-being.  Sitting outside and doing homework in neeley, I noticed something strange about almost all TCU students. We all walk with our head down staring at our phone. We never really take a break from electronics and actually enjoy moments in the present. TCU students are very high achieving and determined which is great. However, what it also leads to is a culture where being busy and productive are praised and mental health rest days a...

 Today, I dedicated the morning to just being outside and it was so nice to take it slow. I started with some nice banana pancakes, journaling outside, a nice walk, and ended with a trip to the local cowtown farmers market. I had never heard of it before my friend brought me here and was so glad she did! I have always had a weird stigma in mind of people that go to farmers markets are hippies and free-spirited(not a bad thing just definitely not me). I think so often, I and a lot of people I know get out of touch of nature and appreciation for where everything comes from. Everything is so quick, easy, convenient, and fast. Enjoyment gets put on the backburner while productivity gets put as priority above all else. Going to the farmers market reminded me of all the hard labor that goes into the quick, packaged fruits and vegetables at the local Kroger or the fan-favorite trader joe's. I forget to be grateful for the privilege I have of access to food so this experience was a great r...

 The past weekend/Labor Day, I went up to Saint Louis to visit my friend who goes to Saint Louis University. She is a pretty adventurous and active friends so she proposed that we go to Forest Park to go paddle boarding. We are notorious for doing random outdoor activities together like running a half marathon without training, walking a marathon for fun, and one day backpacking in Europe(if our dreams come true), so I was excited for the next day's activities. Because of the rain, the shops were not open. However, that did not stop us from exploring the beauty of Saint Louis! From the arch to the beautiful flowers along the streets, the city was quite enchanting. I instinctively took picture of things that caught my eye and made me awe. I noticed that I was more present and not constantly checking on my phone like I usually do every day. I walked around looking at my surroundings and for once saw text messages sent to me more than ten minutes ago because I was not checking. I have...