I have a number of old files with odd bits in them that I have saved for years and every once in a while they can be really useful. Just this past month, in time for our reunion celebrating our Orientation Advisors (OAs), I pulled out a picture of the OAs from 1996 that no one in New Student Services had! I also found a paper from 1998 reminding us that we should get 23 DBRU* equivalents a day.
The idea of DBRU equivalents comes from the work of Donald B. Ardell, PhD, who is an author, teacher and lecturer on wellness. The paper I have has no citation on it and no explanation beyond Ardell saying we should think of DBRU’s as little bits of experiences of happiness. However, I did find him through the magic of Google. To quote Ardell, “Little pleasures throughout the day will do the trick. Tune into these little delights, bring them into conscious awareness, celebrate them… .” Many of us have had the opportunity to experience “little bits of happiness” as we have attended year-end banquets and receptions. Others have gotten thank you hugs as students have celebrated their successes with us. For others, the bits of happiness have been shared with colleagues, family and friends. Even in our toughest days and weeks, those little bits of happiness are there if we can stop for just a moment to recognize and savor them.
I encourage you to take a moment during this hectic, fun, challenging, joyous time of our year and recognize the little bits of happiness around you. And remember that to have a healthy life, Ardell says we need 23 DBRU equivalents each day so let’s start counting!
Thank you for all you do to support our students in all of their endeavors and hang in there.
Gage
*PS: You may want to know what a DBRU equivalent is. Ardell writes about seeing a Far Side cartoon by Gary Larsen. It featured a large deceased rhinoceros lying on the ground covered by buzzards with more buzzards flying in to join the feast. The caption has one buzzard saying to another, “Just think here we are, the afternoon sun beating down upon us, a dead bloated rhino underfoot* (DBRU ) and good friends flying in from all over. I tell you, Frank, this is the best of times!”