Hey y’all!

When I wrote this letter, I had no idea that a global pandemic would change the way we currently live our lives, taking many of us away from campus and confining us, for the most part, in our homes. While you may not be walking on the streets of Minneapolis anymore, taking time to appreciate your surroundings—and having a moment to clear your mind—are as important now as ever.

I hope you enjoy these stories, this art, and this issue of The Wake. And the next time you take a walk around the block, look up and out at the world around you. Try to listen to your thoughts rather than drowning them out; maybe these stories will help guide you.

Lately, I have found myself taking in a near-constant stream of distraction whenever I am doing something mindless. I listen to podcasts, read my email or the news, check social media, and generally distract myself from my thoughts. Maybe it’s because I get bored easily. Maybe it’s just another way to fill up any moment of free time, making sure I don’t waste any of it. Maybe I don’t want to think about whatever is hovering on the edge of my mind. And yes, I enjoy what I’m listening to or reading; there will never be enough time to read all the books, hear all the music, or consume all the media I want to, so why just sit and stare out the window, or go for a walk without my headphones in?

This semester I’ve realized there are a lot of reasons to do just that, to find interest along the roads of Minneapolis (or wherever you are), to dive into those pushed-away thoughts, to look up instead of down at my feet when I walk. Before I left campus, I noticed the way the river sparkled under the Washington Avenue bridge and the way the sunset reflected on the Weisman Art Museum. Since returning home, I’ve allowed myself to sift through creative ideas I’d been pushing off for months, and I thought a lot about how much I’ve grown since my Freshman year. Without taking a moment to take in the world around me, I wouldn’t have heard the cacophony of birds outside or noticed the flowers starting to bloom along my block. And as spring comes, there will only be more beauty hiding in plain sight for us all to find.

So, when you’re done reading this lovely issue of The Wake, I suggest you put down your phone, take out your headphones. Look up and around, and allow yourself a moment of reflection and a moment of quiet. You might be surprised at the joy you uncover in letting your mind rest.

I hope there are countless things that make you smile this semester (wherever you may be) and that you continue to discover more.

Enjoy the little things,

Marley Richmond

Voices Intern

Letter from Voices Intern