Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life!

Editor’s Note: This opinion piece is by special contributor Sheriff Osni, a graduate student at Texas A&M University-Commerce.

 “Your beliefs become your thoughts, your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, your habits become your values, your values become your destiny.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Be mind.ful that every day you are given the “present” of 86,400 seconds, that’s 86,400 opportunities to choose to become the best version of your SELF in order to fulfill your purpose (destiny) in life. As a member of the humankind in an increasingly natural, man-made and self-inflicted turbulent world remember to always practice the “kind” in humankind. Before being externally kind to others, it begins internally by being kind to yourself, being kind to your thoughts.

“All mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated…As therefore the bell that rings to a sermon, calls not upon the preacher only, but upon the congregation to come: so this bell calls us all: but how much more me, who am brought so near the door by this sickness….No man is an island, entire of itself…any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.” ~ John Donne

Be mind.ful that at TAMUC “Campus that Cares” understands that no student is an island entire of themselves and therefore no student should ever feel alone or hopeless. Student Affairs has many divisions to serve and support every student throughout their academic journey. The Counseling Center provides a range of services from crisis intervention, individual counseling, massage chairs, and biofeedback “Relaxing Rhythms.” The Academic Success Center (ASC), the One Stop Shop, the Student Involvement Suite (SIS), L.E.A.D., and S.E.E.D.S. are a just a sample of the departments on campus.

“Guard well within yourself that treasure, kindness. Know how to give without hesitation, how to lose without regret, how to acquire without meanness.” ~ George Sand

Be mind.ful that you are a member of one kind diverse community, one kind multi-ethnic tribe that thrives on dyadic relationship and on the reciprocity of kindness. So, be mind.ful whenever you are walking the grounds of TAMUC Lion’s lair that

“A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.” ~ William Arthur Ward

Every day you have the opportunity to make 86,400 kind connections because

“Kind people are the best kind of people.” ~ Unknown