From timeless red brick buildings to grand and gothic towers to verdant greenery, every inch of campus is a realm of beauty that lends the university its idyllic charm. But walking around campus, I have noticed that most people are constantly plugged into their AirPods and headphones, never being fully in the moment. Muting the voice of campus with the persistent buzz of music ringing in your ears not only numbs its beauty, but effectively takes away the vicarious experience of life on campus. Our daily atmosphere is rife with a thousand different sounds that are worth listening to and enjoying.
These campus sounds form a bedlam of melodies that is all around us. You hear it in the playful chirp of the birds punctuating the quiet of a cold morning, filling your day with joy and positivity. You hear it in the myriad of voices that chime on the walkways of main campus in tune with the rhythmic thump of a million footsteps — some teeming and hurried, some languid and laid back. You enjoy it in the melodious chime of the bells within the Powell Library towers, gently reminding you of the hours passing. You can feel it in the powerful gush of the Inverted Fountain echoed by the one at Royce Hall.
These melodies aren’t just background noises; they are the beating heart of UCLA. They enrich our surroundings by adding a layer of depth to its beauty. The time we have on campus is painfully short, so it’s important to make the most of it by being fully present in each and every moment.
This idea of being completely aware of where we are and what we are doing within our surroundings is called mindfulness. According to the American Psychological Association, practicing mindfulness has been shown not only to improve attention and memory, but to increase emotional regulation, reduce negative feelings of anxiety and depression and foster a sense of overall wellbeing. It’s time to take a minute to slow down from the chaos of everyday and start noticing the smaller things to not only make life richer, but actually worth living.
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Featured Image Photographed by Siena Hunt/BruinLife
