As important as it is to plan for the future, it is also important to live in the moment. This can mean a variety of things; it could mean to not look so far into the future and try to plan things that you have no control over yet and enjoy what's happening in your life at that time, or it can literally mean to be in that exact moment, taking it in.

I know the future can be scary, and a lot of us want to be ready for it, but the truth is, it's what you're doing now that will prepare you most for your future. I think it's pretty pointless to just look ahead and worry/plan what's going to happen, when you should be focusing on what you can do now that will help you for a few years down the road. This could be saving money, getting an education, or anything else along those lines.

Another thing to realize about living in the moment that is important, is that you need to take in your current surroundings. I think we're all guilty of being on our phones at dinner, or at social events, or pretty much any time of the day, but I think it's important to put the phone down, and really engage in the now. The now is when you make memories that you can look back on forever, and it's hard to make memories when you are just constantly on your phone all the time. Of course if you're taking pictures or making permanent memories in some way or another on your phone, that's okay, but seriously we should all try to be a little more attentive and realize the times when it's okay to be on our phones, and when we should be engaging in conversation.

I know that I would much rather be focused on what's going on in my life now, than worrying about what's going to happen 5 years from now, because it's much more relaxing to live in the moment than to try and look into the future where nothing is certain. So next time you catch yourself caught up in the future and not in the moment, take a step back, put down the phone, and live in the now.