March 24, 2022
Editor: Carolyn Berryman
Artist: Demetria Dresser
When I was a child, my favorite book was A Glorious Day. It was a picture book featuring a boy named Henry, and he brought readers through his day. He lived in a red brick building, went to the post office, waved to the garbage collector, took a bath, and played with his friends at the playground around the corner. The simplicity of the story and the perspective of awe assigned to mundane elements of daily life spoke to me as a child, although I probably did not recognize it; it still speaks to me today.
As I move through my college experience, I am realizing the importance of the messages from the books I most enjoyed as a child. It started with a text I sent to my mom on one of those days that got more overwhelming with each passing minute.
“I wish I was a rock.”
She responded, “Sylvester and the Magic Pebble!”
Sylvester is a donkey who, just like me, wished he was a rock in the face of adversity. His wish comes true, and after being a rock all winter, Sylvester realizes that life is better as his living self. He returns to his former glory, reuniting with his family for a lovely picnic on Strawberry Hill. The message of Sylvester and the Magic Pebble is self-evident—being yourself and living your life, despite all the challenges that come along with it, is better than any alternative narrative.
Take my childhood idol, Fancy Nancy. She did everything she could to bring her drab-clad family into her lustrous world of glitter and glamor. After Nancy’s family indulges her with a fabulous night in feather boas and high heels, they return home to change back into their sweatpants. Although disappointed that the night of her dreams had come to an end, Nancy realizes that there is no fancy way to say “I love you”, and relinquishes control. It is easy to get caught up in grand expectations and disappointment when things fall short - I certainly struggle with this. But, Nancy, my fictional hero, was able to conclude that she can be fancy, be happy with her family who isn’t, and still love them just the same.
Strong emotions and impactful experiences are part of what makes life meaningful and exciting. There is no shortage of these nuanced affairs, and sometimes they can become overwhelming. That is where a “Glorious Day” becomes vital: a day where routine feels like a luxury, and we are able to appreciate the aspects of life that are ordinarily taken for granted. Sometimes, all I need is a day like Henry’s, where I am filled with joy to be walking in the sun to my next class and absolutely thrilled to be doing my skincare routine without a rush.
The controlling Fancy Nancy and Sylvester in me begs to be a rock when things don't go to plan. Sometimes, it would be easier to be a rock than to be fancy. But being fancy makes us who we are, whether it is in the clothes we wear, the words we use to express ourselves, our feelings, the actions we take for ourselves and others, and how we handle the complicated things that come our way. The Fancy Days make way for the Glorious Days and rocks are able to have neither.