It is too easy to get your head stuck in the future. All of the pressing questions, such as "what career do you want" or "where do you see yourself in five years" can make it impossible to look anywhere else except ahead. Nowadays, the pressure to get your life together is heavier than ever. Take this moment, right now, to take a deep breath and look back at your life.

Life is made up of countless memories. There are big memories, such as a sweet sixteen birthday party, or maybe a crazy spring break vacation. There are also small memories, like the way someone looked at you that gave you butterflies. Not all memories are good and leave us with warm feelings. Some send an unpleasant feeling in our stomachs. However, they are all important moments that make our lives unique.

It is so important to look back on memories and to smile at them. Life is short. With each passing second, you're growing older. So think back to your memories and take them all in. Smile at how you said the wrong thing in front of the entire class. Smile at how excited you were when you got a puppy. Embrace everything that has happened that lead you to where you are now.

If you are continually living in the future, then you are not soaking up the moments that make life amazing. Of course it is important to plan ahead but it's more important to breathe and think about what your life has consisted of.

Memories are reusable. When something incredible happens, you can relive that moment over and over again in your memories. Do that. Smile at those past events and people and words. Soak up every last drop of happiness. As someone who is constantly chasing the future, it is imperative that I remind myself to stop and take time to appreciate my life. Maintain a balance of preparing for what's to come while appreciating what has already happened.