I always like to go down to the lake on my first morning here. The sun glints off of the water, huge dragonflies zoom and dart a foot above the water, ducks occasionally squawk and honk as they paddle by… and just like that, I can feel my brain start to slow down. All of the stupid/legitimate tensions… the must-get-a-better-job, the must-research/decide/apply-to-grad-school… all of the be-betters in my brain just get the volume turned down.

And I listen to the lapping of the lake.

And just like that, I can breathe again.