Lovestruck

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A W I N T E R S F R E E P R E S S P U B L I C AT I O N

LOVESTRUCK

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This Is Us Kaila Gallacher

Hunter Weaymouth

Kaela Cordero Nicole Moos Pyper Johnston Reann Bast Megan Desousa Inna Gordeyeva Joshua Cea Melissa Nicole Amelia Calo Megha Rethinasamy Shamus Quinn Nima Salimi

Nicole Williamson Laura Bourbonnais Siddharth Koyal Kamesha Ramnarine Erin Dagenais John Doyle Caroline Febbraro Miske Ahmed Serena Lam Thanh Dang

Jena Angra Meaghan Gonsalves Ha-Yun Holly Yoon Sharyl Man Victoria Collins Thanh Dang

Khadija Bari Zornitsa Stoimenova Bailey Paniszczyn Daniel Fong Maria Guna Abigail Wiley

Laur Brewin Daye Oh Matteo De Sanctis Maria Elizabeth Muia Rita Zhan Dylan Ateba

Thanh Dang Sarah Shahab Eliza Szymak

Yuhan Shi Hashneet Choudhary John Sanchez

Victoria Venpin Melanie Gazvoda Roshni Nayar Carly Balestreri Marvin Darkwa Julia Usher Cassie Weir Avery-Rose Hamilton Teodora Vilotijevic Victoria Ann Kaila Gallacher Eduardo Guerra

Kalli Jones

Amelia Calo

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A Peek Inside

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Letters from Editors SoCul Events

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Creative Challenge + Prompts Everything revolves around you My Home All I Know Now The Lovers Illumination Her Gold January Blues, February Blooms Stuck

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On Love, Capitalism, and Loneliness Valentine’s Day Film Recommendation A Love Letter to Friends, Near and Far Taking Care: Navigating Online School and New Restrictions Playlist for the Broken Improving Your Mental and Physical Health An AB-undance of Memories: My Stories from the Absinthe Pub The Matrix Film Review

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Letters From the EDITORS

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HAPPY FEBRUARY ARTICHOKE FRIENDS AND READERS!

will touch everyone.

I hope you enjoy this issue of The Artichoke as much as we all enjoyed creating it.

Already, the winter semester has taken off— demanding courses and assignments are back, overwhelming the mind with anxiety.

a brief respite from the demands of the world.

We would love it if you would consider submitting to The Artichoke’s Monthly Creative Challenge. These creative challenges we issue monthly can be used in any way you choose. We only hope that it will provide you with an opportunity to get creative. This month, our prompts have to do with “burnout”, “spring”, and “breathing”. Hopefully, they will inspire you to get creative this month.

always, some wonderful artistic designs and photographs, as well as some incredible writing by our staff writers—from a love letter to friends, near and far, to poetry on cherishing the moments and realizations, large or small, that really matter to us—there is something here that

Kaila Gallacher (she/her) Editor-In-Chief

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HEY WINTERS, Happy February! I hope your winter term is going well so far. With Valentine’s Day just on the horizon, as well as reading week and the return of in-person classes, this month is sure to be an exciting one! I have to admit, February is one of my favourite months of the year. I’m not quite sure why, it just feels like there’s something special in the air. This issue of the Artichoke is here to keep you updated on everything that’s going on this month, as well as all things love! Plus, the Artichoke challenge is back again this month. Be sure to check it out for a chance to be featured in the next addition of the Artichoke and on our social media!

Warm Regards, Hunter Weaymouth (he/him) Assistant Editor

HEYA WINTERS! We are so excited to bring you this February edition of artichoke! This issue is especially chock-full of romantic poems, so make sure to have those tissues on standby. After a restful winter break, our designers have been working hard to ensure another aesthetically pleasing set of spreads for your eyes to enjoy.

If you are interested in embracing your creative side through either art or writing, feel free to participate in next month’s creative challenge (see details inside).

With that, we hope you have an amazing February full of love, joy, and hopefully in-person classes.

Happy reading, Kalli Jones (she/her) Design Editor

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HELLO WINTERS!

Welcome to yet another edition of the Artichoke! I’d like to thank you for checking out this new issue, and I hope you enjoy. As I always say, we have a fantastic team of writers, designers, and photographers, so this publication that resonates with you. I hope you can have this issue be an escape from the chaotic lives we are all going through.

If you are looking for a way to take a break during the midst of this busy school time, check out this month’s challenge. Interpret the challenge however you would like to and create a creative work, which can include anything from choreographing and performing a dance piece to writing a poem. We here at the Artichoke are looking forward to seeing whatever you decide to create!

Best, Amelia Calo (she/her) Social Media Coordinator

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FEBRUARY

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SOCUL EVENTS 3 Groundhog Day 7 Minecraft Monday/Game Night - 10PM Via discord/zoom 10 Valentine’s Day Movie Night/Escape Room/Game Mashup/TBD 8PM-10PM 14 Valentine’s Day 16 Jam Sessions/Ab Karake 8PM - 11PM 19-25 Reading Week 28 Word Night 8PM-10PM

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MARCH Creative Challenge

CREATIVE

WE ARE ECSTATIC to present this month’s creative challenges for you to play around with. If your submission is chosen, you could be featured in the March issue of The Artichoke!

• Burnout Explore the concept of burnout. What does it mean to you? What do you do to recover? It usually comes with giving so much of oneself to something else–school, for example, or work, assignments, social engagements, family? How do you try to avoid it?

• Spring Life Tell us about why you love this season or show us what your favorite parts of spring are. What are some of your spring favorite memories? What are you looking forward to?

• Breathe Think about the activities that allow you to breathe–think of expanse and open air. What does it bring to mind?

Guidelines: There are no rules as to what you can create Write, draw, take a photo, or create in any medium you choose How to enter: Either send us a message or tag us on Instagram @Artichokewfp Or email your entries to wintersfreepress@winterscouncil.com If you have any questions, feel free to reach out!

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EVERYTHING REVOLVES AROUND

YOU.

CREATIVE

BY GURLEEN AULAKH I LOOK OVER at you and get captured by the gaze; like a thousand bright stars are shining my way like time stand stills and nothing else moves, except me, my heart and you.

But I see you standing by the door it’s hard to know whether you’re walking out or into my life.

You still have one foot dangling over the somber other side.

But I heard talks of love, of how everyone in the room shifted their eyes towards you. with you as the only moon.

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BY MEGAN DE SOUSA

MY HOME

CREATIVE

HAVE YOU EVER felt divine?

I am rewarded after a millennia of silence and diligence

I’m a puzzle with an aberrant shape missing; Promptly, the piece appears as if from the omniscient. Now I am living in times yet to be: reminiscing.

Have you ever felt whole?

Anxious to gather their ideologies, I am focused, driving my happiness with control, A foreign feeling with many etiologies

I’ve been given another to which I coalesce.

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ALL I KNOW NOW BY AMELIA CALO

CREATIVE

I learn to play games Oh foolish games And run around with crushed hearts in my hand cause I soon learn that broken IT WAS SUMMERTIME Cream cheese frosting And odd tan lines I heard his heartbeat, just it wasn’t at the right time I decided I can’t sit back and listen to the meaningful lies anymore He wore levis and tims And fell for a girl who was young And I was a little tricky At least that’s what he told me But I turned tricky into the trickster And I left I tell him I don’t know him anymore It slips from my mouth on the fourteenth day And god I wish I had said it a few months before

they did But maybe I learned these lessons from the wrong person All I know now is maybe I’m changing

Remember we were all little kids once Taught not to hold the past as we blew

But my friend Danny went off and was a liar And met a pretty girl with strawberry blonde hair and a broken smile Big lies escape from the smallest mouths and the smallest lies sting your skin like lemon juice

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LL I KNOW NOW ALL I KNOW

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I notice the scar above their eye

fully get over it

All I know now is Words are shaken Lips tremble Thoughts mistaken Everyone’s stories are always told differently We all have monsters under our bed I learned to laugh in its face I stare and think if they have even brushed their teeth that day

Turning white losing blood as I stare them in the eyes

All I know now is I don’t know the answers to questions in my head Why this?

Why now?

How is this supposed to end?

And I accept I may never fully get over it but I’ll try More lies slip from mouths Of people, I never knew All I know now is This confusion does not leave It transforms All I know now I want to know more.

CREATIVE

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THE LOVERS

CREATIVE

BY HUNTER WEAYMOUTH

I LEAVE NOTES under your door, hoping you’ll read them. do you?

I only wish you could see yourself and not the mask that you wear. why do you hide? if I told you everything near the place where the water runs free. would you hear me? when your eyes stare through me, I can’t help but wonder. am I enough?

love born anew. can’t you feel what I feel? in the end, it will never work. but for now? kiss me, whenever you want

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YOU’RE THE FEELING of stars in the dark that light my way when I can’t quite see any earth left beneath me. you’re the stabilizing force of gravity to the oceans in me that roar you’re the strength it takes to keep on shining warmly on the coldest nights. that don’t quite know if they’re burning.

CREATIVE

BY KAILA GALLACHER For Bernard

could live in the worlds we’d create together. there are terrestrial conventions that hold us bound to this earth, its entropy and chained to the sun but there are still nights we steal moments that never really end and will always be a continuation. these are the moments that will echo inside us for as long we live just like starlight that shines and teaches that illumination outlives a body we are a kind of truth you feel cannot exist until it does.

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Her Gold BY MISKE AHMED

CREATIVE

THE YOUNG GIRL loved her melanin skin.

She knew her skin was made out of gold.

The sun always appreciated her melanin skin.

While the rest of the world died from envy.

They turned the young girl’s skin colour into a crime.

A crime that killed her melanin family.

Now the young girl stares pitifully at her melanin skin.

Fear gradually beats out of her heart, wondering when she will be next.

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JANUARY BLUES, FEBRUARY BLOOMS BY JULIA USHER

JANUARY WENT BY painstakingly slow with few moments of delight.

The holidays ended and school began with nowhere to go.

Making progress felt like a sigh of relief, until we ended up right back where we started.

No one paid for a ticket and yet here we are, partaking in this immersive nightmare, seated at home in front of TV screens, behind closed doors and freezing-cold weather, we ask once again: When will things get better?

I am so tired, even waking up has become a chore.

I try to think of something to look forward to and fall short every time, stuck in January blues as February blooms or wither up before we get to know its beauty.

I want to see every colour and smell its fresh scent. allow us to blossom as your days go by.

I want to feel tall and radiant, forget my blues and grow a little something new.

CREATIVE

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stuck BY LAURA BOURBONNAIS

CREATIVE

THE STREETS FADE under six-foot snow banks, summer shimmering on our screens indoors, dust cumulating on our desktops, death count static on TV another night in, huddled up on the couches, for a movie - just us, our twenties sitting on shelves, collective memories and dreams merging into one, unrecognizable, our second year selves strangers it’s wild how much i’ll miss this, how nostalgic i’ll be, for all those times we shouldered each other’s sadness, and laughed at little nothings, mischievous after hours, grateful to still be here

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ON LOVE, CAPITALISM & LONELIN

M, NESS

LIFESTYLE

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LIFESTYLE

At

THE RISK of starting out my Artichoke tenure on a sour note, let me state for the record; I hate this time of year. I hate the cold and the dark, and the slushy muddy snow. I hate that every time I turn on the tv I see ads for bejewelled heart-shaped necklaces that nobody really wants, and I hate that I can’t take a step into a store without being confronted by wall-to-wall shelves of candies in every shade of pink, frilly, or wrapped in crimson foil. This season, and frankly this holiday, is a particularly bleak and dreary one for me.

Yet I also look forward to it. It marks the end of the longest and darkest part of the year. A part of me always knows that as soon as we cross that February 14th threshold, the days will get longer and lighter, the weather will get warmer, and for those of us who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, the grey clouds of December and January will begin to lift and dissipate.

It’s worth talking about Valentines because I think it’s a complicated day for a lot of people. The weird expectations around a day invented for lovers puts pressure on people who are coupled and single alike. The idea that you should “prove” your love for someone with a gratuitous display of gifts seems sketchy at best, and creates shame about being single. But how did that become?

We’ve all at least heard the elementary

school story about Saint Valentine giving cards to his friends on February 14th and that’s how the whole thing started. In truth we know very little about him except that he was particularly good at converting pagans to Christianity (another reason for this witch-y bisexual to steer clear if I’m being honest). He was not associated with lovers or matchmaking until Chaucer wrote Parliment of Fowls, a moderate 1000 or so years after Valentine had lived and died. Even then, Valentine’s Day was by and large an obscure folk tradition until the 1840s when industrialization and increased commercialization led to the familiar tradition of giving and receiving valentines.

Convenient for manufacturers, since this naturally led to an increased demand for cheap consumer goods for people to throw their hard-earned money at.

And that’s really the problem I have with this holiday; it was made up to sell engagement rings to coupled people and chocolate to single people all to line some capitalist’s pocket. But perhaps that is the pessimist in me. I know many people who use this holiday to celebrate their friends and family in more meaningful ways. I have been to Galentine’s Day comedy shows and participated in workplace know there are so many ways that people make this holiday mean something more than merely commercial displays of love.

So why do I still feel sad whenever this time of year rolls around?

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If I’m being honest Valentine’s Day reminds me that I’m single. And to be clear, I am not bitter about my single-ness. I do not write my antithetical Valentines day rants from some sad pile of pillows, nor do I begrudge coupled people their happiness. If you are at the thought of celebrating your partner, then more power to you. I am a fan of love.

I watch Pride and Prejudice and cry every Lizzie (2005 version of course). I have loved, and been loved, and lost love and that is all a part of the human experience. But this holiday reminds me of what I don’t have.

In some ways, it’s meant to. Otherwise Hallmark wouldn’t be able to sell so many cards with cheesy phrases on them.

I don’t think it helps that Valentine’s day happens in the middle of winter though. At a time when spirits are already depressed, this seems like a low blow from Big Candy.

Is the demand for edible massage oils in midwinter so low that companies have to resort to putting it in a pink bottle and shoving it under our noses in our weakest moment? If you want to celebrate love, why not do it in June when I have more than three serotonin molecules to fend off this very obvious play for my self esteem?

I am also struck by the irony that the day for lovers is celebrated on the anniversary of a death. According to an 1868 article in St. James’s magazine, Saint Valentine “met the usual reward of martyrdom, on February 14th” for conducting illegal marriages.

I guess the only point I’m trying to make with all of this is that if you also dislike feeling alone this time of year, you are not the only one. If, like me, your only plans for Valentine’s day are to eat ice cream from underneath the covers while you binge watch every episode of Arcane, that’s okay too. If I could leave you with a little bit of hope it would be this; By Chaucer’s time Valentine was associated with not just lovers, but birds as well and I think that is a much more appropriate symbol for this time of year than any declaration of love. days until Valentine’s, I will be anticipating the return of the birds to the city; making their nests and preparing for the year to come. I will be waiting to hear the soft sounds of birdsong so that I can know that I am not out of place. Rather, I am a part of a natural cycle of having and losing, loving and being loved, and we are exactly where we should be in the slow-turning wheels of time.

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“WE SHOULD BE IN THE SLOW-TURNING WHEELS OF TIME.”

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VALENTINE’S DAY FILM RECOMMENDATION: DAVID GORDON GREEN’S ALL THE REAL GIRLS (2003) BY BRYDEN DOYLE

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WHAT’S STUNNING ABOUT All the Real Girls, David Gordon’s 2003 romantic drama, is its optimistic view of its characters’ imperfections. In chronicling the ups and downs of an intense romantic relationship, decent, despite and because of their

still leaves open the possibility that these people can change and mean it, even if they may not stay together.

Paul Schneider stars as Paul, a young man in a small town who lives with his mother (Patricia Clarkson) and drifts from one meaningless sexual encounter to another. Paul is spurred to growth and maturity when he falls in love with Noel (Zooey Deschanel), the younger sister of his best friend Tip (Shea Whigham).

When Paul and Noel talk to each other, it’s like they share a secret language. Their dialogue has a spacey, yet charmingly and uniquely sincere quality. There’s a scene where they’re sitting on a hilltop and Noel suddenly says she likes to imagine having only 10 seconds to live and as she counts down, she closes her eyes paper, this exchange sounds insufferably precious, but Deschanel’s quietly earnest delivery and Schneider’s encouraging responses sell the scene by showing how these people are completely tuned into each other’s frequencies. Gordon Green’s direction of these romantic conversations matches the intimacy of their words, together in comfortable medium shots the impression of eavesdropping on their secret courtship.

shorthand between characters, like how whispering is used to express affection.

Early in their relationship, Noel whispers a romantic secret in Paul’s ear. When Paul enters the same shot as Tip to whisper a message of support in his ear, mirroring the tenderness with which he treats Noel. lived-in. During dialogue scenes, detailed conversations can be heard in the background as the dominant conversation unfolds, adding to the sense of teeming Paul and Noel converse early on and the looks back at the two of them, suspicious of the germinating relationship. achingly romantic, with its soft-spoken dialogue and gentle guitar soundtrack (including songs by Will Oldham and heartbreak in the second hour is all the more potent. When one character admits they made a mistake, the slow zoom-in on the couple feels oppressive and their subsequent conversations heartbreakingly isolate them as individuals in shot-reverseshot that underlines the emotional fallout.

The actors might over-exert themselves with the outsized emotions of their the scene is admirable. Paul is dealing with the feeling of heartbreak when he has been the heartbreaker for so much of his life, while Noel is dealing with both love and to express themselves, they scream at each other, trying to articulate their overwhelming feelings, and Paul even

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People may not literally punch the ground

through physical gestures, it makes sense that these characters would physically express their anger, too. in dealing with Paul’s simultaneously noble and self-absorbed quest to become a better man for Noel. He doesn’t want to have sex with her immediately because he wants to make the relationship count before. Paul Schneider acutely conveys sincerity. When his mom grills him about

his wounded anger over his insecurities On one hand, Paul’s consideration for Noel is admirable, but on the other hand, his narrow-minded perception of her. with another guy, despite begging for forgiveness for his past screw-ups as understands and critiques the hypocritical male characters that expect so much leeway without extending that same courtesy to the women in their lives. develop Noel as an individual with her own history, interests, and values. Her line to Paul about her making him better and him making her better is deeply moving. Not everyone will forgive you for your faults, but

they are truly worth cherishing.

All the Real Girls is currently available to stream for free on CTV Watch and Tubi.

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A LOVE LETTER TO FRIENDS, NEAR AND FAR BY SERENA LAM

EVER SINCE I was a child, I would always try to remember the names of every single friend I encountered. If not their of how they were and who they were to me. I am often taken aback over casual conversations when other people share that they can’t recall friends from their distant past.

Of course, memory being infallible and constructive, I cannot truly account for every single soul that I have crossed paths with, but I’d like to think that I remember at least nearly every single friend I’ve made in my (admittedly not that long of a) lifetime.

friendship rings true everywhere.

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Many stress the profundity of platonic connection and gush about best friends. Still, I grew up hearing notions of ‘happily ever after’ meaning romantic relationships, which was depicted almost as the ultimate goal.

As much as the other person would rattle on about lifelong friendships, society’s never been framed or centered around friendships. ‘the one’ and the idea of true love being romantic is so deeply ingrained in many ideals that Valentine’s Day becomes a rather lonely day for many. Seemingly so isolating, that phenomena such as Anti-Valentine’s Day and Galentine’s Day have popped up, a of romance.

But between platonic friendships and romantic relationships, what makes the deepness and importance of friendship any lesser? While differing in nature but with one prioritized over the other, I fear that looking at our friendships as never ‘enough’ for true happiness might make us undermine them.

Owing to the television sitcom, Parks and Recreation, Galentine’s Day presents itself as a day of celebration of female friendships on February 13th. Beyond the gender binaries, here presents a holiday to celebrate friendships on the same level as we do romantic relationships.

To me, love, platonic or romantic, carries care and dedication, happiness and appreciation, persevering and growing together.

LIFESTYLE

And for all the friends I have made along the way, no matter how much of life’s secrets or how many of life’s years we may have shared, we molded one another.

Every now and then, I halt in my step as a smile slowly forms on my face. My mind races and looks over what I just did in realization— The origins of a gesture or quirk that I never gave much thought to reappear and I reminisce over a dear friend I haven’t seen in a while.

For it is in the unconscious habits, mannerisms and phrases, that hidden pieces of our loved ones stay. The tiny things that make up our personality are rather composed of a myriad of particular, friends.

We may have grown together or we may have grown apart, but we always grew from one another. And I will always carry a piece of each friend within me. That in itself is beautiful and deserves to be celebrated.

Moreover, in a world that debates over quality or quantity, maybe it’s time we appreciate our social circle for what it number of friends we have, or strength of the bonds we have with each other.

and a distant acquaintance can play an as integral role to our persons as our close forever friends. I am shaped by many things including my social relationships, meaning both past and present.

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Whether we drifted, or ended on bad terms, the good times served me in a different time, when I was a different another. And I know that I can appreciate friendships that are no more for what they were without wanting to revive them.

As for the friends who ground me in the present, I appreciate each and every single person in so many different ways. I support them with every grateful bone, as we rejoice life’s wins together and shoulder each other’s burdens trudging through harsh waters. I treasure the times we walk along the same paths, and one day, should they diverge for any reason, I know I will smile at the memories we make today.

To my friends, I love and celebrate you.

And speaking of, while I (not a gal) have Day, perhaps this year might be a good start to hop on the Leslie Knope train.

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Navigating Online School and New Restrictions

TAKING CARE:

BY CAROLINE FEBBRARO

ALTHOUGH THE UNIVERSITY recently announced its phased return to campus, there’s still some time left to be spent stuck at home (or in the dorms). With school work piling up and lengthy Zoom meetings to attend, days can feel monotonous and depressing.

So, what can we do for ourselves to make these days a little more bearable? There seems to be no clear or easy answer to this question, but now more than of isolation. Here are three small things I do to take care of myself amidst the uncertainty of pandemic restrictions and the stresses of online school.

LIFESTYLE

1. GETTING UP AND GOING TO SLEEP EARLIER With no need to commute to campus for class anymore, sleeping in has become more convenient. It’s easy to slip into bad habits like oversleeping when there’s no urgency for a routine day around 8 or 9 a.m., I feel more rejuvenated and eager than if I had slept until noon. This also means that I feel fatigued sooner in the evening and am inclined to go to bed at a better time

2. EATING A HEALTHY BREAKFAST

(usually around 10-11 p.m.). This sounds easier said than done, but after some time, I found that my body accustomed itself to the cycle and now wakes up by itself, fully rested. By implementing such parameters into my schedule, I have effectively preserved my circadian rhythm. That is, the natural, light-related process wherein protein molecules interact with our body’s cells, creating a biological clock we ideally operate on (“Circadian Rhythms”). In other words, our circadian rhythm is best maintained when we rise with the sun and sleep when it goes down. This is harder to retain in the winter, however, given the sun sets much earlier than it does in other seasons. Nevertheless, by setting a schedule that attempts to mimic our circadian rhythms, we can begin to make the most meetings that would otherwise leave us drained.

If you’re a student, you’re likely living on a budget and struggling to eat healthy consistently. Even if you’re not, it’s still possible you struggle with maintaining a balanced diet. I’ve found that it’s hard to commit to eating better when money is in short supply and healthy food is inaccessible.

This is unfortunately due to how there are fewer of those options when it comes to eating out and those options are unaffordable. Fast food is more convenient for that reason, as it isn’t hard to Nonetheless, even as I navigate this dilemma myself feel better when I start my mornings with a healthy breakfast. The effects of a healthy breakfast have necessary nutrients and vitamins, it helps regulate

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"USUALLY, THIS E ON A WALK THAT MINUTES OR SO, GO ON MY PHONE PRACTICE MINDF your weight, and it provides you with the energy you need to start your day (“Breakfast”). What is most advantageous about a balanced breakfast while being a student, however, is the brainpower it gives you to focus and retain information (“Breakfast”).

When your brain receives a dose of glucose in the morning, it improves its daily performance (“Breakfast”). So, even if you can’t manage to eat healthy the entire day, trying to have a substantial, nutritious breakfast can make a difference in what you’re mentally able to expend.

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ENTAILS GOING T LASTS THIRTY WHERE I DON’T E, AND INSTEAD, FULNESS "

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3. GOING ON A

This is perhaps the most important thing we can do to take care of ourselves amidst online school and pandemic restrictions.

Aside from our reduced mobility as we live and work from home, we spend a lot of time staring at our devices doing assignments, reading articles, sitting in hours of Zoom meetings, and even scrolling through our social up my laptop some days because I dread the screen fatigue I know I’ll feel by the middle of the day. However, this is futile as I inevitably have to log on to do work or readings if I want to keep up and do well in school. So, to remedy this, I’ve allotted time each day to log off and spend time outside. Usually, this entails going on a walk that lasts thirty

minutes or so, where I don’t go on my phone, and instead, practice mindfulness. Mindful meditation is a proven method in reducing stress, mitigating emotional reactivity, increasing focus, and (Davis and Hayes). In other words, it works wonders for our brains when we allow them to breathe from the hoard of information and images they take in every day. It also helps to do mental “housekeeping,” which consists of checking in with yourself to see that you’re okay and that there aren’t other anxieties lingering in the background of your mind.

From the outside, it seems too simple to actually affect a person, but a short walk with my thoughts every day, sans screen time, goes a long way for my mental health.

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WORKS CITED This list by no means is complete; there is a lot more that can be done to make these hard days a bit more enjoyable and easier on ourselves. But, I think these are three easy and accessible ways we can begin to take care of ourselves while living in these uncertain and dismal times. I hope they work as well for you as they did for me!

“Breakfast.” Better Health Channel, www. betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/ healthyliving/breakfast.

“Circadian Rhythms.” National Institute of General Medical Sciences, www.nigms.nih.gov/ education/fact-sheets/Pages/circadianrhythms.aspx#:~:text=Circadian%20 rhythms%20are%20physical%2C%20 mental,the%20study%20of%20circadian%20 rhythms.

Davis, Daphne M, and Jeffrey A. Hayes. “What are American Psychological Association, July 2012, www. apa.org/monitor/2012/07-08/ce-corner.

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PLAYLIST FOR THE BROKEN. WHO SAID FEBRUARY IS FOR LOVERS? BY GURLEEN AULAKH

HERE’S NINE SONGS to listen to for those who are up at 2 a.m. and really want a song they can resonate with. Why nine? Because everyone has that one song they go to when they’re sad and let down. Add it to the list and make this your personal playlist, unknown to the world.

LIFESTYLE

01.

A Sad Song About Love – sanjay.

“Now we’ve all fallen in love before, And there’s always a person you can’t ignore” Need I say more? The song revolves around a boy who falls in love with a girl that moves overseas before the poor guy could ever confess his love.

Unsaid feelings really crush you a thousand times and if you’ve been there, you’ll know.

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Please Never Fall in Love Again- Ollie MN

“But you lit up my life This is what it’s like to be lovers”

For all the insecure people who’ve found love, but have been cheated on before and have MAJOR TRUST ISSUES; this is for you.

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03.

Beyond Love- Beach House “Could you ever believe beyond love?

I really wanna know” Sometimes love is uncertain, you know?

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Three Small Words- Joolie “Three cursed words Taken for granted Don’t make it worse.”

saying those three BIG words. Even worse, what happens if you’re the only one who says them?

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Lucky Love- Michael Seyer “A million ways they give just to live And I’m just lucky this is it, this is it.”

Found love, but still a borderline cynic? This is the song for you. Luck or love, who knows? Just enjoy the ride.

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Hand Over Hand- Roland Faunte

“People change, start falling in and out of pairs, For now, it all just really hurts.”

POV: It’s 2 a.m. and everyone’s sleeping except for you and your mind. Blasting this song on your headphones. Full volume, eyes closed. IT’S HEAVEN ON EARTH. Thank me later.

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chance with you – mehro

“If I could go back in time, I’d shoot my shot; I’d risk it all.”

Here’s a reminder: GO FOR IT. Life is too short to wait! I know all of this sounds like a big cliché, but you know it’s true. So, what are you waiting for?

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If U Wanna Stay – Sweatcult “I want more than friends My feelings devour it”

The voice speaks more to you than the lyrics and the music does the same. This song is an absolute soul crusher, especially when we know that now it’s too late to do anything. So, you leave things up to the other person because making huge life decisions has never been your thing. Hits too close to home, right? I know.

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Moondust – James Young

“I long to hear your voice, but still, I make the choice To bury my love”

courage to embrace the past, not hide it. Good days are coming, but good days are subjective. Wait for yours and don’t compare.

Everything’s going to be okay. Okay?

Here’s to moving on.

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IMPROVING YOUR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL WELLBEING IN TRYING TIMES BY SYDENY MALLIA

IT HAS BEEN two years since the start of this enduring pandemic with countless lockdowns and madates. These times can often feel overwhleming and even hopeless, causing people to put their mental is little room to care about anything else. Like many of you, I have also felt the devastating effects of this pandemic physically and mentally, mental and physical state, I do have some suggestions that could help you feel more like yourself in these challenging times.

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Having a routine You’ve heard this before, but having a routine can be a lifesaver especially when so much of our lives are spent at home. Routines are necessary to get us on track and achieve our goals, no matter how small. Routines can be anything, from having a set time to wake up or scheduling an amount of time for you to get work done, giving yourself free time for later.

Do something every day that gives you joy This suggestion has helped my mental health tremendously. It allows you to think about things that bring you happiness and have something to look forward to. Things that bring you joy can be anything, from reading a good book to playing a video game or watching tv. I like to do this every morning before I get out of bed, and sometimes it even gives me a reason to get out of bed in the morning.

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Practice mindfulness This practice is a form of meditation derived from Buddhism that helps with stress, anxiety, depression, and even insomnia. There’s no ‘right way’ to works best for you. Personally, when I feel anxious or stressed, I practice mindfulness by laying on my bed, closing my eyes, and focusing on my breath. I try to think of nothing and concentrate on the blackness I see when my eyes are closed. This practice helps relax my mind by shutting down my thoughts, and often I even fall asleep. But when I wake up, I feel more energized and connected to reality. However, there are many ways to practice mindfulness throughout your day that are less meditative that can help you be engaged and present in everyday moments. For example, setting your intentions at the beginning of the day, taking a mindful shower or walk, and practicing active listening.

Try to move your body every day We are all victims of excessive screen time so, it is necessary to get up every day and do some form of physical activity. However, fear not, it can be minor, like taking a short walk or even going up and down the stairs a few times. Start off small, so you don’t overwhelm yourself and later work up to longer walks or even short workouts. Your body and your mind will thank you in return!

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“The best thing we can do for ourselves starts with the little things we do throughout our day.”

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This list is a short complication of things that have improved my mental health and physical health throughout these past two years. I recommend works best for you if you’ve also struggled throughout this pandemic. I wish I could give you an exhaustive list of proven advice guaranteed to help you, but unfortunately, that does not exist. We are unique, and our minds are all programmed differently; however, we can share some solace in knowing that we have all struggled throughout this pandemic. The best thing we can do for ourselves starts with the little things we do throughout our day. We can all overcome everything we have endured these two years with dedication and patiece. So please do yourself a deserve it.

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AN AB-UNDANCE OF MEMORIES: MY STORIES FROM THE ABSINTHE PUB BY MELISSA NICOLE

EVER SINCE MY Absinthe Pub.

Sometimes, it would be after parties for special events, other times, it would be for a night out with friends, and on occasion, it would be after a hard exam where I would need a drink and nachos to make me forget about the stress I had endured.

Regardless of circumstance, the AB was always there—it became like a best friend to me. The atmosphere, the entertainment, the friendly staff, the pub had it all! Even during Covid times, the pub has never lost its spirit, and the few times I have been able to go over the past few years have been some of the best times of my university experience!

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to the AB. I had made some friends in Winter’s College, and they told me about this ‘super amazing bar’ that was located in the building just across from their residence. They invited me out to go there that evening and I remember it vividly. My highschool best friend and I walked in and sat in a booth near the back, while the rest of our friends were there sipping on beers and thinking about which food to get.

I was eighteen at the time and I had never really been to a pub with friends before. I had an Orange Creamsicle drink, and at that moment, it felt like the best drink I had ever ingested. I paired it with a Kit-Kat bar and some mozzarella sticks. I also played a round of darts that night. Granted, I was not very good and by the end, I almost threw a dart at my friends back….ouch. Regardless, it was a great time!

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Another memory that sticks out would be the class in my second year. I had just turned in a proposal late, had to sit through a three hour lecture, and on top of that, I had three other assignments to complete for separate courses. Needless to say, it was not one of my best moments.

However, I went to the Absinthe with some get my mind off of it, and it was probably the best decision I made that day! We ordered a bunch of food, sat around in a booth and talked all evening. That night was Jazz night at the pub, and we stayed to listen to the band play. Eventually, I had forgotten about the hard day I had and truly lived in the moment that night.

the afterparty following the opening night of The Late Wedding, a play presented by some students from the Theatre department. After the show, a friend and I went to join my other friend who was part of the production team at the pub. We sat with her and her friends and ordered some pretzels and beers.

I never got the chance to converse with students from the Theatre department before, so I was glad I was able to talk to some of them at the party. We sang, talked, and made memories. It was truly a night I will never forget.

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experience. It has seen me in the best of times and in the worst of times.

It is a place where many memories were made with friends, and I’m so grateful to look back on those and smile.

It is a place I will hold in my heart always, and I hope I can go back there a few more times before graduation.

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The Matrix Resurrections and the Failure of Cash Grabs BY JOSHUA CEA

THE ORIGINAL MATRIX philosophical elements backed with what was then groundwhich made audiences put themselves into the shoes of Thomas Anderson or Neo, a man who questioned his reality and mundane life until he was drastically pulled away from it and thrown into a futuristic war-torn dystopia to become “the chosen one”.

It took hold of various moviegoers, making it one of the last the way directors approached action movies. Its critical success eventually led to two sequels and spin-offs in various media spawning a strong fandom and establishing an impact that was strongly felt in the early 2000s.

Flash forward to today, an era of Hollywood where income is generated by either fast paced action-packed superhero The fourth instalment of the franchise since 2003 “Revolutions” which brings Neo and Trinity back in order to resume their struggle against the machines that dominate the surface of the earth.

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By the conclusion of the trilogy we had a resolution to the story in which the machines are defeated, giving humans a chance to return to the surface, and try to re-establish themselves free from The Matrix and from technology.

The complete disregard to its story resolution immediately reminds one of the 2015 “Star Wars: The the original trilogy conclusion, in order to cash in on nostalgia and milk the franchise.

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Yet many fans swallowed it up and applauded it, giving way quick buck off the nostalgia train.

Similarly, upon the various remakes, re-boots, sequels and prequels over the last ten years we have Matrix Resurrections, the brand name.

this one in order to link back to recycled plot elements to

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purchasing movie tickets and buying the merchandise.

Hollywood, like most of the entertainment industry, has become creatively bankrupt, either by becoming too reliant on established franchises or on technology itself while completely disregarding creativity, character development, minimal investment.

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