As we move into the middle of the semester and midterms start cropping up, we are reminded of the long-term projects that we have not started yet, and all the problems we have not given ourselves time to process begin to bubble over. While navigating those, as well as the abundance of other items on our plates, it is easy to feel lost and overwhelmed by the sheer volume of our agendas.

In the face of the chaos we all experience, it is important to remember that it is a collective madness. The person beside me might not be encountering the same conflict, but there is most likely some point of unrest in their life. Even if they feel like they are at a point of equilibrium, there was a time that they were not.

I do not say that to trivialize the struggles each of us experiences. I say it with the hope of reminding us that life is not always easy but that is okay. Lousy things happen and they will impact our productivity and mood. It is a fact of life that affects all of us, even though the circumstances that cause people distress are different.

So, as the semester continues to drive forward, let’s try to be gracious with ourselves and one another. If we can first be gracious with ourselves, then it becomes much easier to ask others for help and accomodations. And, if someone asks for help, remember how tough life can be and try to find ways to accommodate around what they are going through.