To Orient Oneself

October 15, 2013

Orienting—is this an actual word—a verb? I often feel the need to orient myself to my immediate environment. I hate to waste an opportunity to truly experience where I have planted myself. It could be a far off vacation spot or it could be my kitchen. I try and take in my surroundings, the familiar and the new. Some say I tend to have a slight bit of paranoia about what’s “out there.” I say, I like to be able to find my way back, or know where I put down my car keys. Take today for example. An absolutely stunner of a day. It is a classic: crisp air, sunny skies, and beautiful foliage. I smell the air and can pick out the scents of autumn. The trees are slowly shedding leaves and the sound of traffic, unlike in the summer, is not a constant noise in the background of my day. I decide to walk around the campus and take in the sights. Looking around, I see it through the eyes of a long-term employee and I think I am missing something. Standing on our “loop”, I try and picture it 10 years ago; then 20 and yes, even 30. It is all very Harry Potter-like as buildings fade out and porches appear in former spaces. What ties it all together for me is the sound of student life. At times happy, some times less so. But beyond their voices are the calm tones of staff; teaching, coaching, comforting, guiding.

I find myself smiling as memories crowd in, and I do a slow circle looking around. I am oriented to my world and it looks and sounds like a place I like spending time in.

Submitted by:
Chris Gallant

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