Tuesday Thoughts
In this Issue:
- How to be happier
- P’29 Weekly Message on health and wellbeing
- For alumni families: Ed Wilson lecture recordings
I am delighted to say my ’27 is back from their brief study abroad program in Japan: had a great time, mind expanded from exposure to a new culture, all the things you’d hope happens to a student.
Studying abroad was my best semester at Wake, just totally transformative. I hope that your students consider an abroad experience too. It does not have to be a full semester abroad either; in the case of my ’27, there were reasons they did not want to miss either the fall or spring semesters, so a summer study abroad opportunity was the best fit.
There are also potential scholarships to assist in an abroad experience. The one I am most familiar with is the Richter, which provides funds for independent study over the summer, but there are others. Anyway, I encourage your Deacs to think broadly about the possibilities of studying abroad – the benefits they will reap are practically endless.
How to be happier
There will no doubt be times in your Wake student’s existence where they will not feel happy. There will be tests, they don’t get a coveted position in an organization they want, or get the job/internship, there are friend or romantic partner frictions, etc. But perhaps they can shore up their defenses by building up a happiness practice that can help pull them through those moments.
I read an interesting article, “Jung’s Five Pillars to a Good Life,” which talks about how Jung envisioned people could strive to attain happiness, combined with some modern social science on the same. You can read the full article here (and I highly recommend it, because the context is interesting). But if you are short on time, here’s the Cliff Notes version:
“1. Do not fall prey to seeking pure happiness. Instead, seek lifelong progress toward happierness.
2. Manage as best you can the main sources of misery in your life by attending to your physical and mental health, maintaining employment, and ensuring an adequate income.
3. If you’re earning enough to take care of your principal needs, remember that happiness at work comes not from chasing higher income but from pursuing a sense of accomplishment and service to others.
4. Cultivate deep relationships through marriage, family, and real friendships. Remember that happiness is love.
5. If you have discretionary income left over, use it to invest in your relationships with family and friends.
6. Spend time in nature, surround yourself with beauty that uplifts you, and consume the art and music that nourish your spirit.
7. Find a path of transcendence—one that explains the big picture in life and helps you comprehend suffering and the purpose of your existence.”
It may help your Deacs to spend some time thinking about happiness this summer. Our students are are fortunate that our campus and the surrounding area has lots of beautiful green spaces to enjoy, not to mention art in our buildings. What steps might they intentionally take to cultivate happiness during the fall term?
Something to think about, anyway.
P’29 Weekly Message on health and wellbeing
It’s Tuesday, which means we have sent our Weekly Message to new families today. This week’s message is about health and wellbeing. Hope our P’29s find it helpful.
For alumni families: Ed Wilson lecture recordings
For our alumni families of a certain age, I stumbled upon this treasure trove: a series of recordings from Dr. Ed Wilson. Dr. Wilson was arguably the most beloved man at Wake Forest: a lovely Southern gentleman who studied British Romantic Poetry and whose classes you prayed to get in to.
If, like me, you loved hearing him read the poetry of Yeats, or Wordsworth, or Thomas, you will enjoy these recordings.