Dear millennials/high schoolers/middle schoolers/college students/whoever you are,

Please stop rushing into the future.

We live in a society that asks us to be future-oriented, always focused on the goal, always pushing forward. But if we’re always looking into the future, we’re missing the present. Don’t spend your whole life dreaming of the future and missing the present. Please don’t waste your childhood yearning for “the real world” because frankly, “the real world” sucks. It’s not all sunshine and roses. I mean it, I know adulthood seems fantastic and great and the answer to all your problems, but while you’re focusing on where you wish you were and all the good things that come with being an adult, you’re not allowing yourself to enjoy where you’re at right now.

I know, you think “well when I get my degree I can be happy and enjoy life” or “when I lose ten pounds then I’ll pursue my passions.” But that’s not how life works. Stop spending all of your mental energy on what life could be and what you want it to be because you’re missing the wonderfulness in your life right now. Those things will come when you’re ready, so until then relax and enjoy the present. Enjoy this time while your parents still protect you, when your choices don’t have huge consequences and when your greatest worry is friend drama. You may hate it now, but someday you’re going to look back on those times and think “I wish I knew how good I had it. I wish I appreciated it a little more.” Well maybe not those words exactly, but you get the point. Stop trying to get the future to hurry up and get here. It will in its own time. Those dreams will come when you’re ready, just be patient and allow yourself to be happy with whatever it is you think is holding you back. It’s not. Your life and circumstances right now are shaping you for whatever that imminent future has coming for you. These things that you have right now, you won’t have forever. Don’t waste what you’ve got now on what you wish it could be.