As a 21-year-old approaching their last semester of undergrad, settling into a career and bride to be, I've concluded that every cliche about time is completely true. There have been numerous songs written about time moving without having the chance to blink your eyes and several dramatic movie scenes paying respect to the good old days. When I set out to graduate early everyone warned me "slow down, these are the best days of your life" and when I tacked on marriage to my timeline everyone was sent into hysteria. I've joked that I'm living in the fast lane but as I purchase my last set of overpriced textbooks and catch glimpses of my engagement ring I realize that all those warnings and cliche sentiments have caught up with my fast lane lifestyle.
I'm still excited and ready for the milestones ahead of me but one thing I've neglected to do is process the phases of life I'm speeding past. I can remember leaving my childhood bedroom without second thought but now I find myself nostalgic about the fact that I'll never live under my parent's protective and comforting roof again. As I closed the door behind me (with a little sass, no doubt) on the roommate life, I never thought about the lack of crazy stories I would have to tell. And currently, as I sit next to my fiancé on our last road trip of the summer, I'm hoping I'm not missing any chance to engrave every moment into my memory.
The fact of the matter is that I have no control, no control on how time is going to evolve. There is no doubt that I will continue to become far too emotional at things like television series endings, or unpacking boxes in a new place, and buying my cap and gown. There is no golden ticket answer on how to slow down life, but I'll start by repeating the cliche quote "live in the moment" and hope for the best.
As Andy Bernard says with tear filled eyes "I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them." I can only be comforted by the idea that the years ahead of me and those behind me stand a really good chance at being "the good old days."
