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Health & Fitness

Appreciation and Reevaluation

It is through involvement and existence, that our outlook on a variety of matters is changed.

After a series of excessively stressful days involving minimal sleep, excessive amounts of coffee, and a dangerous amount of vegan muffin consumption (a guilty pleasure when under anxiety), my final round of college exams is over.

As I slowly disassemble my life at Cornell University and begin my return to Lake Forest, I recognize that my excitement to circle back to the town of my youth does not rest in the nostalgic longings that pulled on my heart strings during my early days of adjusting to life elsewhere. Rather, my excitement befalls the chance of exploring all the North Shore has to offer, activities and resources, which I failed to capitalize on in prior years – and no, I am not talking about Karaoke night at the Lantern.

I struggle to find the substance I once did in the cliché comment - greater appreciation for something is developed the longer away from it you are. Mind you, I miss many things in Lake Forest, such as the sharp cheddar available at FoodStuffs or the Wine & Cheese vegetarian sandwich stuffed with ripe avocado.

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But, beyond adhering to my bottom level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, I yearn to enjoy a swim under a clear-blue sky at the Lake Bluff Pool and watch the sunrise through budding oaks at the beach after a morning run. Above all, I miss my friends and family, particularly one member with four legs. Yet, my appreciation of all of things Lake Forest has not necessarily increased, rather it has changed.

Time away from one place, whether a vacation or temporary relocation, often involves time of both reflection and absorption. Although challenging and tiring at times, exposure to situations beyond our familiarities provides a sense of fulfillment not found on a couch in front of the TV or in a bowl of Kraft Mac-n-Cheese. It is through involvement and existence, that our outlook on a variety of matters is changed.

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I digress from my point, but overall there is value amongst these words. Time away has not taught me to appreciate my mother’s cooking necessarily, rather it has given new eyes to view the kitchen – no longer a den of confusion filled with confounding spices and cluttering utensils but rather a sanctuary of selection, giving me the chance to create, bake, and jeopardize my family’s taste buds. The Lake Forest Library is no longer, home to arguably the best DVD selection in town, but a temple of erudition, complete with a plethora of magazines and contemporary journals.

Above all, Lake Forest is no longer the “bubble” that I once found it to be. It is a hamlet with a culture distinct to itself, but also houses the substance, measure, and ingenuity that I crave to explore and further understand.

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