The other day an older woman at work came up to me and advised me to “enjoy the present because life goes by so fast…. you will be 50 before you know it.” I responded by nodding with a smile and a “I know”.
Throughout the years, we are constantly told by teachers, mentors, family and friends to “plan ahead” or else we’ll find ourselves behind. During our middle school and high school years these ideas were further drilled into us as we were given planners that we were expected to use to keep track of assignments.
Specifically as college students we are constantly reminded to think about life after college. Off the bat, when we arrived on campus for freshman orientation we were told that our four years would fly by so fast. Fast forward to the next couple of years, from career workshops that try to determine what type of career you should have in the future to meeting with career counselors to talk about your plans for the summer, we are CONSTANTLY reminded of the months and years that lie ahead of us.
As a result of “planning ahead” being drilled into us at a young age, how does one not find themselves constantly looking towards “what lies ahead” in all other aspects of life? While "planning ahead" has kept me organized throughout the years (and continues to do so), at the same time I frequently find myself using this idea during moments I should be enjoying and “taking in”. Whether it’s thinking about the next assignment, the next vacation, the next day, the day where I begin a job that will supposedly “change my life,” I’m not afraid to admit that “staying in the moment” remains a continuous struggle.
You don’t want to not plan ahead and find yourself surprised when an issue comes out of nowhere. You want to try to anticipate some things so you can remain organized and maintain some sort of structure within your life. However at the same time a little spontaneity is exciting.
While I don’t like to blame things, a major part of this struggle may also have something to do with the current state of society and the use of social media.
As more and more technology develops and more social media apps are created, societies' attention span has seemed to become shorter and shorter. There almost seems to be an expectation for one to be part of some sort of form of social media and have things like a cell phone and an email address. For many, these are more things to give attention to and worry about. While you may laugh at this statement and the fact that for many it is hard to go a day without checking ones phone, it seems to hold true. If you don't believe me, see for yourself. Try to go a day without your phone. I did it and I survived to tell the tale.
As a result of society becoming so dependent on our phones and social media etc, it has made it harder for people to focus on the present and be in the moment. If you go a day without any technology, it is highly likely that there will be a moment where you will find yourself wondering what your friends are doing, if your boss received your email and so on and so forth.
So while as a society we have the tendency to constantly look ahead towards the future, whether its the next day, the next hour, the next meal, take a moment to distance yourself. Take a moment to unplug.
Go to your favorite place and sit down for a moment. Look around you. Try to notice your surroundings. The red cardinal perched on the tree outside. The person sitting across from you on a bench. Think about these details and take in your surroundings. It will be then and there that you may feel you are at your most present state of mind.
