During the past few weeks of school there has been an increasing change in me. I don’t mean the growing up change that most freshmen experience that first year away from their parents.
The change I am talking about isn’t exactly something I should be proud of.
I first noticed it the day spring break started. I was sitting in the MCI airport, irritated at the fact that my plane wasn’t boarding for another two hours. I had hitched a ride with some girls who had flights earlier than mine. This meant that I had already been at the airport for an hour.
Bored with texting and looking through magazines, I decided to head to the little store in the terminal to buy a book. As I waited in line, I thought to myself, this cashier is taking forever, she should not be working here.
After making my purchase, and becoming even more annoyed when the cashier gave me back the wrong amount of change, my cell phone started ringing. Of course, it was my mom, calling to make sure I had packed everything I would need. She was checking up on me again.
“Mom, I’m 18 years old,” I hissed into the phone. “I can take care of myself.”
After hanging up the phone and reminding myself that it was only a week of going home, I realized the flaw in my attitude that had been reoccurring almost every day.
For some reason, every thought I have had over the past month or so has been filled with negativity and impatience. I’ve been acting like tiny inconveniences are a worldwide crisis. I have criticized people I hardly knew, complained about anything that has bothered me even a little, and gotten mad about something minuscule practically every day.
When I really look back, I can only imagine the impression I must have made on people I’ve met.
It’s embarrassing, especially because I usually am one to stay away from someone radiating the negative energy that I am sure I’ve been giving off.
Shouldn’t I be grateful that those girls gave me a ride to the airport, even if I had to wait around?
Am I not lucky to have a mom that, although is a little overbearing sometimes, just wants to make sure that I am taken care of?
What do I possibly have to complain about continuously?
So, maybe it is time that I gave myself an attitude check. I am lucky to be at Baker. I am lucky to have parents that love me and friends that care about me. I am lucky to be healthy. I am lucky to be alive.
From now on there will be no more complaining, because really, I have nothing to complain about. It is time for me to be thankful for what I have. I am going to make the best out of situations when things don’t go my way.
Because although sometimes things that inconvenience us are annoying, that is all that they are, inconveniences, not tragedies.
