October

Today is the start of a new (much colder) month. The month of October brings with it nothing really exciting for me, although others may find it to be a better month than I do. I have nothing against October; it is rather that it is a continuation of September, albeit colder. In fact, that aspect of October is something I hold against it. The cold is not fun. I am not a cold person, despite the fact that I live in Minnesota. I do, however, love snow, and therefore can tolerate the cold. Despite the fact that nothing especially exciting happens in October (for me), it is still a very pretty month as the leaves change colors. School is continuing, and getting more difficult as the work piles up. On the positive side, I think I've found my stride in the MAT program, and though it is difficult, I am getting used to it. I've also connected with more of my classmates, which is very important to a successful program. Though I started this post thinking negatively about October, I realize that it is a beautiful month in which I will continue to excel (or attempt to) in the MAT program and in life. It is a month of possibilities. It can be a soothing, contemplative month, a month to focus on my goals and work towards them, without the distractions that other months can bring. There are no major holidays (unless you count Halloween, which is at the very end of the month), no big exams (I don't have midterms), no major papers due, and no milestones coming up. There are a few birthdays scattered here and there, but otherwise, life is slowing down as the start of the new school year becomes another semester. It's time to engage myself in my studies and enjoy the beauty of nature.

"You'll never be a first class human being or a first class woman until you've learned to have some regard for human frailty. "