then and now - Blue & White Online

in ouropinionthat’s hotLenoirSmoothies, a sushi bar and more seating?!Hi, there! I’m a senior and I’m lookingfor extra swipes...Facebook GenerationFormer UNC system president ErskineBowles now works for Facebook. Clinton,Obama, now Facebook? Get it, Erskine!Crisis MeetingsBonding with classmates while seekingunderground shelter during tornadowarnings? Too bad there isn’t a dancefloor in the basement.#brynningHere’s to opening the season with BrynRenner’s near-perfect pass completionpercentage.Punctuation Day.We love you. We love you?WE LOVE YOU!!!!Practicing MindfulnessWhile pushing my loaded shopping cart through a crowded strip mallparking lot, I noticed a faded purple and red bumper sticker that read: “Gratitudeis the best therapy.” Reading this bumper sticker made me realize thatwisdom can be found in the most unanticipated places.When we focus our attention on the very moment we are living, we have agreater chance of learning something meaningful than when our attention isfixated elsewhere, such as when we are ruminating on the past or anxious overthe future.While certainly neither magical nor miraculous, it was mere coincidencerather than fate that led me to spot the weather-worn sticker. I asked myself:if gratitude is the best therapy, how can I start to practice thankfulness inmy daily life? Do I need to become a recluse out in the woods and renounceworldliness as some great philosophers have done in the past? Do I have totravel to an underdeveloped, remote village to truly appreciate what I maytake for granted on a daily basis?I’ve since realized the answer is no.That day the sticker reminded me that in order to be grateful, one mustbe mindful, and mindfulness can be practiced anywhere, at any time. Allmindfulness requires of us is to be present in the here and now.When I saw that bumper sticker, I thought of all the times I go about theday in a daze, on autopilot, ignoring my surroundings. I remembered thecountless times I’ve been in a hurried frenzy, impatient to reach my destination.Then, once I’m there, I look forward to leaving.When engaging in conversation, we may formulate our responses in ourmind and ignore what the speaker says, or we may cut people off to get ourpoint across. We may not keep eye contact with others or may fiddle with anelectronic device while someone is talking to us. We may sulk over the past, or“When you feel worriedand you can’t sleep,just count your blessingsinstead of sheep.”source: Bing Crosbyobsess about our future plans. We focus on oursuccesses and failures in an attempt to ‘liveour lives.’After realizing what we want, settinggoals is one of the ways we motivateourselves. But if we do not appreciatewhat we already have, we will never beable to fully appreciate our goals once weattain them.As Sheryl Crow sings, “It’s not havingwhat you want, it’s wanting what you’ve got.”We need to remember to be thankful for ourbountiful possessions, such as clean water, an air-conditionedapartment and a full belly to name a few.To start practicing mindfulness, I recommend dedicating 10 quietminutes out of the day to reflect on whatever you have to be grateful for.You can choose to start a gratitude journal, or simply sit in silence listeningto the natural flow of your breath. You can count your blessings as you walkacross campus to class, while driving in the car or swimming in the pool.You can do this anywhere you find a private moment to meditate on whatyou are thankful for.Mindfulness leads to appreciation and makes the ordinary sacred.Your relationships will blossom and your satisfaction from life willincrease.It’s therapeutic.&By kristen lee cuberothat’s notHeelMailSomeone needs to tell UNC-CH thatwe just forward everything to Gmailanyway.Google+I only signed up for this because thecool kids were doing it...!Alert Carolina!We got the multiple emails, texts andsiren alerts, now tell our professors tostop lecturing during tornadoes!The (empty) BlueZoneCome on! Get your lazy buns inthose $70 million seats! You’reacting like this is a wine and cheesetasting...Spongebob DumbpantsA new study says he may be turningkids’ brains to mush, one KrabbyPatty at a time.“If I have an ordinary skirt, I try to pair it up wthan interesting shirt to make it pop. I also addbright shoes to go with it.”Alice He, sophomoremod quad“I would have to say that my style mirrors thefilm 500 Days of Summer because I wear playfulthings like bright colors and ruffles.”Caitlin Hines, juniorEvery month we sendphotographer ElizabethMendoza to find uniquefashion statements. Tosee more, visit our blog atblueandwhitemag.com/blog“I could not live without my little messengerbags and purses. They are easy to carry aroundand they look nice with everything.”Desiree Grier, freshman“My shirt was tailored for me in Ukunda, a townin Kenya when I studied abroad this summer.”Helene Kirsunke-Schwartz, junior4 September 2011 www.blueandwhitemag.com 5