Wendy Li, Period 6, 10/12/22

 Wendy Li - Period 6 - 10/12/22

Modern Mythology 2023

Atomic Habits and Growth

If you were to ask me what my standards were at the beginning of high school, I would have responded with something along the lines of how I wanted to get perfect grades and be at the top of my class. Now, it’s 3 years later. I’ve changed and the only specific standard I’ve set for myself is to slow down.

Slowing down sounds so simple. However, I’d say it’s one of the most neglected thoughts in the world because society trains you to focus on your career and ways that you can climb up, up, and up.

Children get fascinated with the little things in life: bubbles, grass, color, etc. However, as we get older, we pay little attention to those same things. Instead, we focus on work, school, grades, and how we’re viewed by other people. For example, I can’t just sit at the park and watch the sunset without worrying about the assignments due that night or how I’m going to get home when it’s dark outside.  Over time, these thoughts begin to overshadow the little gems that life offers. 

Now, these standards didn’t just pop into my head on a random day. It wasn’t until I failed an exam and had to ask myself: Will I be worried about this grade in a month? A year? 10 years? The realization that life wasn’t about the numbers finally hit. Instead, the experiences are the ones that you will carry with you throughout life. They help shape who you are and the decisions you’ll make along the way. 

But after being programmed to continuously study and prioritize grades, it wasn’t easy to switch to a new mindset. As much as I wanted to go to the library after school to finish homework, I knew that going to a school function would be better for me. This didn’t mean that I started disregarding assignments, I simply just found a way to fit “myself” into my schedule. 

Soon enough, life became less tiring. I looked forwards to having random solo picnics overlooking the skyline or even just staring at the clouds while walking home. The biggest change is that I focus on what I see instead of worrying about all the things I have to do. In fact, being able to clear my mind from all the deadlines, even for a couple of minutes, has made me feel less overwhelmed and stressed out.

The ability to enjoy the little things in life is often taken for granted until you realize how fast life is going.