Earlier this semester, the Resident Ensemble Players put on a show titled Every Brilliant Thing, in which the protagonist lists the simple joys in life — ice cream, the color yellow, wearing a cape, the smell of old books, bubble wrap, and really good oranges.

As we head into a season of gratitude, one common tradition is to share with others what we are grateful for. In my family, we do this on Thanksgiving Day around the table during dessert, and the things mentioned are the big ones, like family, health, and so forth. Every Brilliant Thing is a reminder that there is also value in reflecting on simple joys, those moments that make us smile, step outside of ourselves, and see things anew.

The experiences shared above represent some of my simple joys in this season. I invite you to take a moment to make your own list. Feel free to share with me at lcarlson@udel.edu as you wish.

Here's the latest from around the Beat:

In gratitude for the incredible efforts of our faculty and staff this semester, we will be starting the holiday break earlier than usual with University offices closing on Monday, Dec. 22, and Tuesday, Dec. 23, in advance of the standard break of Dec. 24 through Jan. 1. If you submitted a leave request for these days, you should cancel it in UD Workforce so you can use those days at some other time. I know that there are employees in some operational units who will still need to work these days (I see you: facilities, registrar, athletics, and others). Managers in these units are asked to work with individual staff to take these two days at a quieter time. Essential services, such as police and safety, will follow typical holiday compensation and scheduling practices. I recognize that Jan. 2 is also a dangling day in the calendar when we return; we will be open because it is the first day of Winter Session.

I am excited to share with you the work underway to further support families in Morris Library. The Library recently purchased a Parent+Child Carrel and is planning to convert a former staff space to a Family Study Space in spring 2026. Furniture to accommodate parents and their young children, plus children's board books, will be located in a former staff space on the first floor of Morris Library.

Students, we have heard you asking for more late-night study space during finals. In collaboration with SGA and the Division of Student Life, we will make multiple campus spaces available for late-night and 24-hour study during finals this fall. Stay tuned for all the details after Thanksgiving.

I look forward to seeing you at the General Faculty Meeting, 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, at Gore Recital Hall, with a reception to follow. All members of the UD community are welcome.

Are you a trivia buff? Mark your calendars for 7-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, for a statewide virtual trivia contest to celebrate Delaware Day, when our state became the first to ratify the Constitution in 1787. UD will host one of six locations across the state where participants can gather, play, and watch a live podcast featuring Gov. Matt Meyer interviewing Delaware Secretary of State Charuni Patibanda-Sanchez about Delaware Day and its history. The University events calendar will be updated with the final location for the event.

Prez Run will skip next week (Nov. 27) due to Thanksgiving. Go out and enjoy those turkey trot races instead. We will resume our weekly run at 7 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 4 — yes, we run all year, whenever campus is open.

Yours in UD,