Our theme for the month of June is “spirits.”
A little less than a year ago, I wrote a piece called “A Meandering Spirit,” where I reflected on the joys of living with a spirit of openness and discovery. At the time, I was fresh out of college, alive with hope and gratitude and curiosity—filled to the brim with all the good gifts of my senior year and excited for what the next season had to offer. I’ve now been a graduate for a full year—enough time to get used to the monotony of work, rent, groceries, etc.
And yet! My commitment to the meandering energy of my young-twenties-single-nine-to-five life has gifted me many wonderful sunny afternoons and spontaneous friend run-ins on Saturday mornings at Wolfgang’s. In larger ways, it’s gifted me time spent singing in the chorus alongside the incredible musicians of the Grand Rapids Symphony, wandering the streets of Paris during a nine-hour layover, and in New York—not on my dime—singing at Carnegie Hall.
I see a similar joy in my sister’s new friendships, formed through repeated coffee-shop run-ins. Or in my friend meeting a former teacher at an event we decided to attend at the last minute and coming away with resources for the school psychology work she’s about to begin.
But over the past year, I’ve noticed a tendency for people to get caught in routine—to stop leaning into unexpected conversations, to say no to trips to places they haven’t been before, to stick to what’s familiar.
In the working world, there’s pressure to optimize everything, to track progress constantly and assess every hour as productive or unproductive. But don’t some of the best ideas and most meaningful moments come from spontaneous conversations after meetings or coffee breaks with coworkers?
I think it takes intention—and a willingness to be a little uncomfortable—to keep a meandering spirit. But I think it’s more than worth it.
I’d like to keep meandering; who wants to join me?
Madeline Witvliet (’25) graduated from Calvin with a degree in English. She can be found in coffee shops in Eastown, exploring Michigan’s state parks, or singing with Calvin’s Alumni Choir. Madeline enjoys spending time outdoors, crafting, and cooking Mediterranean-inspired meals.
