Just A Pat On The Back: Try It Out

We are responsible for a lot of things as college students.

We are full time students. Most of us have some kind of part-time job, if not multiple. We’re supposed to go to the gym because it’s so easily accessible. We’re supposed to always be at the library because it’s open until 3A.M. We juggle homework with committees with internships with work with friends with family with sleep with group projects with classes- all at once. It’s no shocker that we undergo quite a bit of anxiety at our age.

Personally, I couldn’t begin to explain the stress I have every single day. This is a big semester for me and I just have a lot going on, so sleep is rare and exhaustion is totally normal (Plus coffee. Lots of coffee). Now so much of what I do, I do because I love it. I am enjoying (almost) everything I’m wrapped up in these days, but that’s not to say I don’t want to rip out my hair and cry a few times a week.

This morning, as we drove home from class, my roommate said something that made me tear up. (Literally. I’m so sleep deprived that my happiness could only come out in tears, Lifetime movie-style.)

She just looked at me and said,“Can I just say, you are doing a great job this semester. You have a lot of things going on and you are juggling them all, and doing well at all of them. You’re just doing a very good job.”

Now she doesn’t see every piece of work I produce and doesn’t see every bottle of lotion I sell; she doesn’t hear the questions I ask my boss or see the papers I turn into my professors. But the fact that she was able to give me that pat on the back, a simple acknowledgement of “I know you’re trying and that is awesome,” was just what I needed. I seriously can’t explain the satisfaction I got hearing that someone recognizes and appreciates the effort I’m putting in- not just because they are my boss, but because they care.

We should all want our friends, parents, roommates, sisters or whoever to feel this way! We all know someone who is doing a million things at once. We all know someone who is doing one thing. It shouldn’t matter how much work they are doing or how many things they have on their to-do list that day: They want to hear that it matters. They want to hear someone, anyone, say “I get it!” and “Keep it up!” because that’s what gives them the push to keep going.

You might not even know you give someone that drive. But think about the last time someone told you, “Oh wow, I love that outfit!” or “I’m so excited for you!” or “That looks great!” and the happiness you felt. I’m not saying you posted a Facebook status about it and went on a shopping spree, (Though if you did, mad props. I’m jealous.) but it was a nice little pick me up for your day. It’s not about them finishing a triathlon; it’s about them finally finishing the task that has been causing them anxiety all week long. It’s about them having that extra push because someone noticed their effort and they know what they are doing isn’t completely irrelevant.

So try spreading that joy. To your sister who finally finished her presentation. Or your mom who just learned how to cook her favorite Pinterest dinner. Or your roommate who finally got a house key after she lost hers. Try it. Seriously.

I’m telling you, making their day might just make yours too.