Life Lately

Clockwise from top left: a leafy walk to town; a rainy day spent in bed reading for class; the beginning of autumn on campus; my study view for most of the year; the beautiful mountain view from our 5th-floor flat.

So it's been a while...

The chaos of senior year has caught me in a tangle, and I'm currently in the middle of fall break, half-asleep and trying not to think about all the work I still need to do this semester. (Spoiler: it's a lot). 

I'm sorry for my absence from this space, having hardly had time to wash my hair most days it's no surprise to me that my creative hobbies have largely fallen to the wayside. So I thought perhaps I could list a few of the things that have happened since I last posted.

Senior year

I started my senior year of college in late August, and whew what a whirlwind it has all been. I'm taking five classes -- which is one more than is standard, -- working three jobs, writing my history thesis, looking at grad school applications, and trying to maintain some sort of social life, as well as taking care of my wellbeing. It's a lot, but I thrive when I'm busy, so I've been feeling really good given the circumstances.

Autoimmune diagnosis

In June, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's hypothyroidism, an autoimmune disorder where my immune system fights against my thyroid, messing up the balance of thyroid-stimulating hormones. It's complicated and honestly I'm not sure my mind fully understands it yet, but the diagnosis was very quick and I was put on daily medication within a couple of weeks. I was initially skeptical of taking pills every day for a new condition, but within a week of starting the right dose, I instantly felt more myself. The six months or so before the diagnosis left me feeling exhausted, listless, depressed, and far more anxious than usual. So I'm extremely grateful for my incredible doctors who put me back on the path to semi-normality. I hope to write more about Hashimoto's and how I've been managing it, so keep an eye out for that.

History research thesis

The last requirement for my history major is a big research project (a thesis). I'm in the research phase and need to start writing soon, but I'm really enjoying it. My topic is 20th-century Australian children's literature and its portrayal of Australian Aboriginal cultures. It's been really fascinating so far, and every day I feel like there's a new layer of complexity that is added. Still lots of work to do, but working on an independent research project makes me feel like such a professional historian!

Post-grad plans

The number one question any college senior is asked: what are you going to do after graduation? Some of my peers recoil at the prospect of life after college, but nothing excites me more! I've been looking at MA/MLitt programs in the UK, at schools like St. Andrews, York, Durham, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. I'm planning to apply to study Victorian literature or Medieval literature (totally different, I know, but I love them both!) On the other hand, I am also looking at creative jobs both in the UK and Australia, and even a few in the US. In short, I have no idea where I'll end up and I find that prospect rather thrilling. I will let you know when any concrete decisions have been made!

I hope to be back here and writing/sharing photos soon. First, I need to sleep for about 20 hours.

Back soon,

x B

Long Overdue: A Photo Diary

I thought it was about time to share some of the highlights from my visit in England, as well as my time in Scotland and trips to Ireland and Northumberland. More travels in the next month means many more adventure photos to come! Many of these are just iPhone photos, so I'll try and get some HQ Canon images posted soon.

 

 

My Favourite Things: Part I

It might sound cheesy, but lately I've been admiring the beauty in the everyday. I find that everywhere you look, you can find something beautiful, and the world we live in is full of so much beauty that it's almost too much to handle! I've been working on a list of my favourite things, mostly related to the beauty of the world we live in, so wherever you are in the world, whatever kind of life you lead, you can appreciate these things as well.

1. The way that trees are reflected in water (puddles of rain, lakes). Related: the lights of a city reflected in water at night.
2. Sunlight shining down through a tree, and how it moves as the breeze rustles the leaves.
3. The moon. This is a big one that is complex for me, and maybe one day I'll dedicate a post to my love for the moon. I like the idea that although our world has changed so much over the course of history, the moon has remained the same, shining bright up there every night. Just think- Shakespeare saw the same moon that you do, so did Cleopatra, and your great-great-great-great-great grandparents. A nice thought, if you ask me.
4. Taking a walk through a forest, surrounded by the whisper of trees in the wind. Related: the beautiful 'hush-hush' sound that trees make when it's windy. It sounds like they're talking to each other!
5. Visiting the beach on a stormy day, when it's so dark that you can't tell the sky and the sea apart.
6. Not so much nature-related, but one that enhances everything the world has on offer: listening to a beautiful piece of orchestral music while doing something mundane, or going for a walk around your neighborhood. I find that this helps me appreciate the little things. Perhaps one day soon I'll dedicate a post to my favourite classical pieces and film scores.

I hope wherever you are in the world, and whatever you are doing, you are aware of the beauty that surrounds us every day. When things are bad, remember that this world was created for you and it's beautiful, so get out there and enjoy it!

x B

(photos are from my Instagram: @rebeccasather)