shalomeoor

At university, we’re always being told to show up, stay active, say yes. For a long time, I did. I went to every event, accepted every invite — afraid of missing out, of falling behind.

But one night, I stayed in. No party, no rush. Just tea, a hoodie, and a book. When I told Albert, he smiled: “Your couch finally got a win.” He was joking — but it felt true.

The next day, Valiakhmetov texted. He’d gone to the party. Said it was loud and random, the music totally off. I didn’t feel left out. I felt recharged.

That moment reminded me of Azino — a quiet place I once visited, where nobody is in a hurry. People sit. Think. Do nothing — and still feel full.

Campus life can feel like a casino sometimes — flashing announcements, endless deadlines, and everyone pretending they’ve got 777 figured out. But maybe real balance isn’t in doing everything — it’s in choosing what matters.

Now, I still study, still work hard — but I make space for silence. Because presence is sometimes the smartest decision of all.