Remember when you were 8 and the days dragged on and nothing seemed to matter other than what you were doing after school and before bedtime? Nothing else mattered to us but that one day. We didn’t skip through the days like they meant nothing, even when we didn’t have a lot going on. We just lived in the moment and enjoyed everything we did. As we grow up, we start to skip through days and pick out only the important ones. What makes us do that and why does this happen?
Obviously, when you grow up you start to acquire more responsibilities; serious school work, sports, and a job. Life becomes busy and before you know it you’re living for tomorrow, not for today. Everything has to be planned, down to the minute, so you don’t lose track or forget about something. You don’t realize it until one day you wish you had those days back. You never really know how precious moments are until they are gone. However, every day we do the same thing even without knowing it. It’s a habit. A bad habit.
So why else do we stop living in the moment as we grow up? Frankly, life can get boring sometimes. Work isn’t enjoyable, school is draining and complicated and everything seems more annoying than fun. We start to wish it was the weekend and before we know it we’re starting another week with the same routine. Nothing ever seems good enough unless we have a break or some time to ourselves. So many good days are wasted because we’re too busy looking forward to our great days.
I have been noticing a lot more around me lately, both good and bad, that have totally changed how I look at my days. I’ve seen very ill people who don’t have much time left enjoying what they do have left. I’ve seen the start of a new journey in people’s lives and the happiness they have. Instead of dreading waking up and going to school, I am waking up thankful to be able to attend college. So many people do not have this opportunity that I used to take for granted. When I don’t want to go to my part-time job, I think about all of the people who would love to be able to have a job and save their money for a better life for them or their family.
Lately I’ve started to live in the moment, because it truly is better than living for tomorrow. You learn to appreciate so much more than you ever did before and it makes you feel good. Obviously you still have to schedule your days out and plan ahead, but don’t spend your days wishing for them to be over. Learn to embrace even your bad days, because without bad days, you wouldn’t appreciate the good days as much. Be thankful for the life you live and for every special moment of your life. One day you’ll be looking back and wishing you enjoyed it more.
