This I Believe

I believe in teddy bears. Almost every child has a consolation creature, whether it’s a stuffed lion, soft blanket, or plastic Barbie; yet many children grow up and lose track of their Mr. Fluff. The comfort friend migrates toward the top shelf on the wooden bookcase or the dusty corner under the bed and becomes nothing but a neglected memory or pleasant decoration. As the creatures are neglected, so does the comfort they once offered fade away. Many people tend to associate these comforts with childhood and eventually grow out of them, but I cherish my stuffed Panda as an emblem of the reassurance that I try to maintain in everyday life. It is important to carry a level of comfort into life, to be happy and confident!

My favorite moments in life occur when I am most comfortable. For me, perfection equals wearing PJs, sipping hot cocoa (or a peach smoothie depending on the season,) hugging Mr. Panda, and reading a romance novel, with Dvorak floating softly from my purple boom box. I try to carry the enjoyment of comfort into my daily routine. Why feel awkward or on edge when I could just be relaxed and calm? Why wear 5-inch stilettos and an itchy sweater if I could wear comfy shoes with sweatpants? Why not embrace life as a happy content person who is pleased and comfortable with the way things are? Yet while I try to bring a level of comfort into every scenario life flings at me, I have also learned that sometimes discomfort can be rewarding.

Sometimes it is important to step outside the box and try new things, even if it means violating one’s comfort level. Running through crisp leaves and fresh cut grass with wind whipping at my face, as I strive to achieve a personal record in the cross country race, is far from comfortable. The pain literally burns in my lungs as I sprint the last 200 meters, focusing exclusively on crossing the finish line, when I can finally terminate the discomfort. While some activities, like running, can be uncomfortable at first, it is worth the initial pain to experience the physical, spiritual and mental rewards of success. Learning to step outside of my comfort zone has led me to enjoy many activities I would not otherwise have taken part in. I have learned to carry a confidence into these new situations so they can eventually become more comfortable.

Ultimately, I have found that achieving a balance between comfort and discomfort is the key to happiness. A mixture of some comfort to cling to as an emotional fall-back and some new strange aspects to embrace yields an interesting yet joyous lifestyle. So I encourage you to bring your teddy bear to college and drink peach smoothies after a tiresome workday, as long as you continue to try new things and meet new people to give life some spice. I support a comfortable and interesting approach to life, to live life to the fullest!