Alisa Tien
By Alisa Tien
SYLP student
While each of us continue to take steps on this little journey we call life, we forget the simple things around us during the course of our daily routines. People are so caught up in trying to achieve in school, work, and the future that they sacrifice their own free time.
Here’s something that everyone might have forgotten. Life isn’t just about work. It should be about happiness. Without having that free time to yourself, you will accumulate more stress from all the work that you do and that can cause you to be less effective at your job.
Take a step back and just cherish the view. Stop that work for a second and smell the flowers.
Here’s some advice: Parks are made for a reason. They can be great places to get away from your problems for a little while and help you regenerate. Take a friend with you and enjoy the beauty of nature. Parks are prime locations for picnics and cookouts with your friends and family.
You don’t like to go outside? Libraries are another great place for you to get away and rest. Surround yourself with a mountain of books of any genre, be it mystery, action, romance, suspense, horror, comedy, or fantasy.
Lead volunteer Felicia Deng looks at a picture, perhaps imagining a waterfront stroll against the sunset? (Photos by Amy Lu)
Escape into different worlds and leave the city behind along with your worries for a moment. Go ahead and peer into the lives of the characters and their stories.
Even though you may want to get away from the city, it could be the ideal place for you to put your worries to rest. Take a walk in the city and marvel at the feats of human engineering. Check out the local stores and shops.
Setting aside time to saunter and get fresh air will help you get your blood flowing and keep your body energized.
Visiting these places can be therapeutic and revitalizing. You could experience a feeling of stress release that will make your mind fresh and keep your thoughts clear. Getting out of that stuffy office or crowded classroom will keep you from going crazy from all of your pent up frustration and stress. So live life, dream big, have fun, and just enjoy yourself. ♦
Alisa Tien can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
(The stories in this issue are written by SYLP students, not Northwest Asian Weekly staff. Opinions herein do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of the newspaper.)