When your extended family reaches the point of political arguments tomorrow night, dinner table conversation might just sound like a whirlwind of charged headlines. But this week, we’re focusing on the things that rarely make the front page: strong support groups, unexpected connections and small gestures from the people around us. In a season that often feels rushed, take the time to note what you’re quietly thankful for too.
How the city gets ready for the holidays
This has been, hands down, one of the toughest semesters for me. Though I knew I was getting myself into a lot, little did I know that I was basically committing to a perfect storm of work that would last from September until finals. But when the stress starts to get to me, I simply step out onto the streets of New York City, where I’m greeted by the lights that appear on the trees at Astor Place, the endless swarm of holiday shoppers and the skaters at Bryant Park. At the heart of it all is a simple, unwavering joy that refuses to be shaken. I’m grateful for these small festivities — they’re a perfect reminder that life goes on regardless of what the future holds, and that it’s more than worth celebrating in the moment.
— Mia Shou, Deputy Culture Editor
The barista who memorizes your order
Nothing makes your morning coffee sweeter than the barista who knows you by name. In the corporate rush of campus life, it’s easy to mechanically go about your routine: walk into the nearest cafe, order a coffee and leave for class. But when I am warmly greeted by the La Colombe worker who remembers my exact preferences, it feels unexpectedly intimate, even bordering friendship. It’s a subtle gesture that also acknowledges that yes, you do in fact order the same thing every day — and there’s nothing wrong with that.
— Daphne Zhu, Culture Editor
My friends
One of my friends recently sent me a photo of me blowing out my birthday candles from my 21st birthday celebration last month. In the picture, I have the biggest, cheesiest grin on my face, and I can say with full confidence that this display of pure joy is all because of my amazing friends. Over the past few months, I have realized that I am surrounded by some of the most amazing people. Whether it’s my co-worker Leigh who greets me with a warm hug every time I see her, my friend Valentina who visits me at my office every Tuesday to go grab lunch or my fellow Culture editors who make hours in the Third North basement fly by, I am incredibly grateful to be surrounded by those who mean the world to me.
— Dylan Henschen, Food Editor
Memories of moments that matter
Everyone has their favorite comfort movie — mine just happens to be the home videos I made with my siblings when we were kids. We would gather all of our toys, pull out an old play mat and hit record. The videos were terrible quality, shaky and the stories we created made no sense whatsoever. But now, when my day-to-day gets so hectic all I can think about is the next thing on my to-do list, rewatching these home videos brings me back to the small, quiet moments spent with the people who knew me before life got too loud.
— Noor Maahin, Identity & Equity Editor
My grandma’s safety in Jamaica
I am incredibly grateful for my 88-year-old grandmother, who remained safe through the Category 5 Hurricane Melissa, the worst in Jamaica’s history. Hurricane or not, I often worry about Grandma Adassa — she gets overwhelmed by many things, from the rising prices of groceries to living with my aunty. She is also one of the most honest and loving people I know, and amid the fear and uncertainty, God protected her and my family — that alone feels like a miracle. Her safety is a reminder that gratitude can exist even in the midst of devastation.
— Robin Young, Contributing Writer
Dining hall workers who are nice to you
Whenever I’m feeling hopelessly overwhelmed after a long day of class or yet another internship rejection, a kind smile and an extra serving of dumplings from a dining hall employee always feel like the warm hug I didn’t know I needed. A simple yet cheerful “how you doing, baby” never fails to bring a grin to my face to match their infectious enthusiasm. It never gets old to know that, even when nothing in my day is going right, there’s someone who’s trying to make it just a little bit better.
— Ivanka Sun, Beauty & Style Editor
Art that inspires
I recently went to a screening for my friends’ short films. Spanning from immigration to relationships to women’s rights, the shorts offered glimpses into the stories of everyday people. One of them mixed found footage and animation, reflecting on a girl’s relationship with her family throughout her first semester at NYU. The push and pull between missing your parents and becoming your own individual deeply resonated with me — it was the perfect example of how art helps us process the world around us, and I was inspired by the film subjects’ resilience. I find solace in art, and I am grateful for how it thrives amid the noise.
— Carissa Becker, Contributing Writer
The unexpected connections
As the semester goes by, I always find myself falling into the monotonous trap of class, work and studying. My days at college start feeling predictable until they begin to blur together. But I’m grateful for the unexpected, albeit fleeting, moments of connection I’ve been able to experience within, and maybe because of, the mundaneness. From having a tangential discussion about the politics of translation with my tutor at the Writing Center, who then gifted me a zine about Korean women’s poetry as a memento of our conversation, to eating that first lunch at the Marketplace at Kimmel with an acquaintance from my Social and Cultural Analysis class before we evolved into friends, life naturally forced me to take a step back from my to-do list and find space for the other parts of my life.
— Julia Kim, Culture Editor
Contact Carissa Becker, Dylan Heschen, Julia Kim, Noor Maahin, Mia Shou, Ivanka Sun, Robin Young and Daphne Zhu at [email protected]