A couple of years ago, I was in a funk. I don’t know if I would call it a depression, but I was definitely in a rut and feeling really unhappy with my life. I wanted to be anywhere but where I was. Whether I was at home or at school or even just hanging out with my friends, I always felt like there was something better out there for me.

I soon realized my funk was because I was so focused on the future, I was ignoring my present. All I wanted was to be older. When I was a freshman in high school all I wanted was to be a senior. When I was a junior in high school all I wanted was to be in college. I was so convinced that the future was going to be 10 times greater than the present that all I did was look towards it and plan for it.

Now, there is nothing wrong with looking forward to the future and planning for the future. The future is exciting! There’s an endless amount of possibilities, who knows what could happen? It’s when you lose yourself in the future and lose sight of the present that it becomes a problem.

My high school years were some of the best times of my life. And looking back on it, I feel like it just flew by without me even realizing it. One day I’m this little freshman walking through the halls having no idea where I am, and the next I’m walking in graduation waving at my beaming family as I end this chapter of my life.

Being in college now, sometimes I wish I could go back.

Don’t get me wrong, I love college. I have made incredible new friends, I’m focusing my education on things that interest me, and I’m exploring a new part of the world. But you only get one high school experience in your lifetime. It feels weird that mine is already gone. I still feel like a 12-year-old inside even though I’m supposed to be this maturing young woman starting to figure out her life.

Let’s be clear, I am nowhere near figuring out my life.

The point of me writing this article is because I decided to make a change. I decided I was done feeling sad about my present when it was clearly so great and that the future would come when it comes. Plus, there’s no guarantee of the future, so why waste your present banking on something that isn’t even set in stone?

I made the choice to start focusing on all the little things in my everyday life that made me happy. Whether it be something that made me laugh or something that just caused a smile to cross my face, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that even on your worst days, it is important to remember the things in your life that are good.

Life is tough. It’s difficult, challenging, unfair and cruel. We all know this. But life is also beautiful. It’s full of happiness and excitement and adventure and love. And these are the things we should be focusing on every day.

Every night before I go to bed, I write down something on a piece of paper that made me smile that day. I put it in a jar and then at the end of the year I pour all the notes out and read them, reminding myself of all the good things that happened to me that year. Then, I start over. I’ve been doing this for a couple of years now and it has made me exponentially happier. I notice it, my family notices it, and my friends notice it.

My favorite thing I ever wrote on one of those papers was making my dad laugh so hard he cried. It was in the middle of some store that I don't remember; I have no idea what I said or what we were even talking about. All I remember was sitting there watching tears pour out of his eyes as he cracked up at some stupid thing that had come out of my mouth. That was a couple of years ago and it is still one of my favorite memories.

The future is a big, beautiful thing that we should all be excited for. But it’s important not to get lost in it. The present is just as big and just as beautiful. Don’t forget to pay attention to those people around you and to the things you are experiencing every day. Someday, they won't be there anymore and you’re going to want to remember them as best you can.