By JONAS MILLER
Opinion Editor
“Due to inclement weather, all day and night classes have been cancelled, and all colleges offices will be closed.”
I think we can all agree no sweeter words can be spoken. Except for maybe, “School is cancelled for the rest of forever and you never have to come back and be stressed ever again.”
Since that is a dream that only exists in my head, we will focus on the whole “snow day” thing, because that actually happened.
On the chance that another day off occurs between my writing this and the publication of this issue, throughout this article I will be speaking strictly of last Monday, February 2.
It started off just like any other snow day. I woke up at 5 a.m. for absolutely no reason other than that my brain decided sleep wasn’t important on that particular morning. I rolled over and checked my phone, and to my delight, I had received an email from the professor of my first class informing us that that day’s class had been cancelled due to the weather.
I shut my alarms off, rolled back over, and woke up six hours later feeling refreshed and thankful that I was still in bed.
The events that followed were quite unexpected. Unexpected is not a word I generally enjoy, as I am a “planner.” I rarely enjoy spontaneity, but on this particular day, I decided to pick caution up, and throw him right into the wind.
I had to go to the mall, because I needed protein. Without protein, I could not lift. And if I could not lift, I would most certainly wither away into oblivion. So I bundled up, put on the pair of shoes I thought would keep my feet the driest, since I currently do not own a pair of boots. It’s sad, I know. And then I went outside to break through the snowy casing that currently entrapped my car.
Once I found my car and froze my butt off clearing the snow from around it, I started my journey to the mall. I’ll admit, it was a rough one. A front-wheel drive Honda Civic, a foot of snow, and the poor snow clearance that the city of Albany provides, made it into a videogame-esque trek.
When I arrived at the mall, there was nobody there. Literally. The only person I ran into on my short walk to GNC was a shorter man with glasses. I had planned to go to CVS later on in my trip, but couldn’t remember where in the mall it was, so I asked him which direction it was in, since I noticed he was carrying a CVS bag. He responded by slowing down slightly, glaring at me for no more than a second, and saying absolutely nothing. He walked past me as if I did not exist. Hmph.
After that whole fiasco, I dealt with a much bigger issue. GNC was closed. I should have known… the snow and the snow and the… snow. I thought my day was ruined. Thankfully, after about five minutes, a man who I recognized from previous trips raised the gate and welcomed me in. I had a very nice talk with him about the products I was buying, and as I walked away he said, “Have a great day, man!” That was the first sign of a good day to come.
My next move was to the CVS, wherever it was. While there, I bought some candy because the box in my room for my residents was running low. I figured Jolly Ranchers and Tootsie Rolls would last a while. I was wrong. They’re gone.
Following the candy conquest, I ate a wonderful lunch at a counter seat in Johnny Rockets. The waitress was incredibly friendly, and honestly, the smiley face ketchup thing they do is beyond adorable. I consumed my chicken fingers and French fries like the five-year-old that I am, and washed it down with one of the best chocolate milkshakes I’ve ever had. And again, when I left, I was blessed with a “Have a great day!” from the waitress.
Last but certainly not least, I played with a puppy. Yes, it was adorable, yes, it untied both my shoes, and yes, I contemplated stealing it. Puppies make everything better. On my way out, after reluctantly relinquishing my new furry friend, the woman at the counter continued the trend of the last few hours, by telling me to “Have a great day!”
If you made it this far into the article, congratulations! You are about to hear why I decided to share all of this with you.
I realized something, and that something is that I don’t need anyone except myself. If I want to have a good day, all I have to do is get out of bed. You do not simply have a great day, you make it a great day. I am the one who decides my mood, not the rest of the world.
Sure, if I had gone to the mall with a friend it would have still been a good time. But, I went by myself, and I had a blast.
Happiness does not lie in the arms of other people. YOU decide what makes you happy. If sitting at the counter of Johnny Rockets by yourself makes you happy, then you do it. Drink that milkshake. Pet that puppy. Do not depend on others to put a smile on your face.
Make it a great day, Golden Knights.
