Slush and Supporting Each Other

I may have mentioned all the snow Chicago got hit with this weekend – and I know we’re not the only ones.

See, look how pretty!

Fortunately, campus maintenance is impressively effective, so getting to class (and anywhere else) is fairly easy. One thing that’s not so easy, though? Crossing the street. Why? Every curb presents you with a choice; you can step in a swampy, slushy puddle or a knee-high snow pile.

But there is a funny thing that happens when you’re fighting the same battle as everyone else: bonding.

I’m not talking about the type of bonds lifelong best friends have, obviously. Still, when you’re not-so-gracefully hopping into someone else’s snowy footprints so you can avoid splashing into slushy puddles, sharing a smile with a stranger over how ridiculous you both feel… it helps. You realize you aren’t the only one feeling moronic as you cautiously step and leap around the curb. Simply, you’re all in this together, and that’s oddly encouraging.

So while this example might be a little simplistic and random, I think it’s a good reminder. Everyone is dealing with inconveniences and many people are making difficult choices (often more serious than deciding between puddles and piles of snow). Recognizing that and offering support – even in the form of a shared glance and a smile – can make those tough situations feel just a little more manageable and help supply the needed perspective that we aren’t alone.

Smile at a stranger today for me? 🙂