“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” – Henry David Thoreau

In life right now, I am doing more than I really realized was possible. I have always pushed myself to do too many things and become the best version of myself that I can be. However, it is just recently where I have become content with where I am.

I am goal oriented, chasing constantly after future dreams and aspirations. In the midst of chasing my dreams and goals, I was losing sight of the now.

My biggest life goal is becoming a doctor. My passion, desire, dream, etc. is to become a doctor. What kind of doctor? I don’t know. I have varied from infertility specialist to anesthesiologist to endocrinologist. I know for sure that I want to be a doctor of some sort, though.

Currently, I am pursuing a major in medical/molecular biology from Rogers State University while being an active member in the Honors Program. I am working towards starting up the campus’ first biology honors society. I am spending my summer studying for the MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test), which I am taking technically a year ahead of when I need to because I am just a little crazy and I want my best chance of getting into medical school. I am writing a personal blog (what you are currently reading) and managing a team of writers that publish blogs nationally as well as writing as a part of this team too. I am also preparing myself for anything that life may bring within the close future. My mother recently uprooted my family’s previous eating habits and has us on a much healthier lifestyle and I have begun working out again.

Sounds mildly overwhelming, right?

Honestly, I would say that it is. However, I am so content with my current situation, I feel happy with where I am and feel like everything that I am doing is what I need to continue doing to prepare myself for the future and for achieving my dreams. I am no longer losing sight of the now, yet I am also able to pursue my future.

This morning, my mom came into my room to wake me up because it was a beautiful morning to sit on the back patio. My mom and I love to sit on the patio and drink coffee in the morning and just talk—it’s so relaxing and simply the best way to start off the morning. It began to rain and I was so content just sitting on the back patio with my mom and my dog (Snickers), sipping my coffee and listening to the rain. Then I made myself some water with lemon and homegrown mint (because this new diet is all organic so we are growing our own spices and herbs). I put my water in my adorable pineapple cup that my “second mother” got me just because she saw it and knew I loved pineapples.

I drove to work and walked to my office and saw the coolest tree, and for some reason that tree just really made me happy. I work in the President’s Office on campus, which is located in a building that was originally used for barracks when the school was Oklahoma Military Academy. This tree is planted right at the corner of the building, so I just thought it was so cool how long that tree had to have been there and yet, in my two years at RSU, I had never even noticed it.

It wasn’t until recently that I realized how much I am appreciating little things, and I am no longer missing what is happening right now. I am no longer so focused on the future that I allow it to distract me from who and what is happening now. I am content with the current while still striving for what future holds.