In the rush of the morning hustle, the run between classes/work, and the struggle to complete assignments on time we tend to forget about little things life has to offer, or in other words, the good things.

While we consume most of our time planning or working towards the future we forget the whole “livin’ in the moment” concept and essentially forget what pure happiness is.

We worry so much about getting the perfect education, saving up as much money as we could, studying days and weeks before a test – all for something that will happen whether or not you worry about it. And there will never be the “perfect” time to go on vacation (something or someone will always be a concern), you’ll never have enough education (there will always be room for more), and you’ll never be truly satisfied with the amount of money you have (it’s the law of human nature, we always want more). So instead of worrying about what will happen in the future think about what is happening right now. What do you like about the present? But really, what can you do to make it better?

For starters think of the little moments – like waking up a couple minutes before your alarm or getting to go to bed an hour earlier. Forget the fact that you have to wake up to another day of school/work, let those couple minutes or hour be carefree. Let that time be yours – present and blissful.

But also, don’t let the bigger picture scare you when you only have one part of it. Who knows what happen in the future when we don’t even know what will happen in a couple hours. This “big picture” is just an accumulation of “big moments”, moments you have shared with others. And while we all love our memories with family, friends, pets, etc. these “little moments” carry intimacy that is reserved for you.

In those few minutes before your alarm goes off for the start of a new day, you have the chance to do anything. Whether you are lying alone in bed, next to a loved one, or taking the opportunity to get up earlier – the choice is yours, the time is yours; live in it, not through it.

Because, nothing is better than taking a few moments to breathe at a red light, listening to music in traffic, or catching up with friends during a long wait. In a long day filled with rush and urgency we are too stressed to even think of the little moments. You see, a puzzle wouldn’t be complete with a missing piece; the little moments make the big picture and every single one is as important as the other.

So, keep in mind the big picture – never neglect your motivation and drive to achieving your goals – but don’t let the obsession in building the big picture destroy the little moments that make it. We all want something more, something better, but nothing will be better than the intimacy between you and your choices.

Let these choices live in the present and not grow on stress from the question of “what will happen in the future?” Because the future is unknown and your happiness in the present will be as great as you make it in the present. Remember...you can never go back you can only move forward.

So once in a while remember to live in the moment and maybe jump out of a plane for fun, of course with a parachute, and enjoy the moments that are so little, but so pure.