Emilia Rodriguez-Vera
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Student Life
Stop Living For The Future
Today was once the future you were planning on living, so live it now that it is here.
26 November 2018
444
Molly Goebel
Each day something or someone reminds us that time flies by and to take each moment in, but do we ever listen? Most times, no. It's only until we have small epiphanies that life is short every few years, months, or weeks (maybe days) and we decide we need to change our outlook on life. Then it passes and we go back to our old ways. It's a common human flaw. We're trained and conditioned from a young age that the future is something to look forward to and something to plan for. But this mindset more times than not gets in the way of us recognizing the present and from embracing each thing we encounter each day.
Those days of elementary school looking forward to middle school. Those days of middle school looking forward to being a "big kid" in high school. Then in high school looking forward to being an adult and "free" in college, but with slight hesitation and fear of the future. Then being in college and working toward finding the perfect job and building the future we've dreamed of. Before you know it years have gone by and so have so many opportunities to enjoy that time more than we did.
It only takes small instances for us to remember that time is flying by us and that we aren't living our present to its full potential, but quickly we can become wrapped up in "The Future" again. Slowly, but surely, we start living each day as a stepping stone to get to somewhere else we'd rather be instead of making our present what we want it to be. Just one more class to get through, just another piece of homework to do, just another work shift, just another day of dealing with this or this or this… There is always going to be something to work through before we reach "The Future", but, by then, "The Future" is the present and we didn't even realize we had gotten to a point we had once wished and worked so hard to be at - and we're letting it pass us by.
Life is always happening. And life is always happening now, in the present, not in the future. The future will always be a fantasy of what we tell ourselves will be worth it once this struggle in the present is over. But the future becomes the present and we are faced with another struggle and the new future moves farther and farther away until it feels untouchable because we made it that way. We can never reach "The Future" because we never accept it when it becomes our present.
I'm guilty of this. We are all guilty of this. This life we are living is never our own because we never own it. We never realize we are in the future we had wanted not long ago until it passes. Time flies by. And we dream for another future. We have to start dreaming for the present we want, not the future we want. By creating the present we want and living that present to its fullest potential, it allows us to move into the future we deserve because we have lived and made choices that have given us that future that we recognize is our present.
"The Future" can only be as good as the present you choose to live. Your life isn't suddenly going to change and be "The Life" you've always wanted. Your life will feel the same as it always has if you don't accept your present as your future. If you're always working toward the future, you won't live in the present, time will fly by, and you won't realize it until you wake up and see all that you pushed aside when you were so concerned with "The Future."
In the words of Tennessee Williams, "Life is always now" and we should start living it that way before it all passes us by. Enjoy the people you get to spend time with now. Enjoy the things you get to do now. And recognize that the life you've got now is the best life you could be living in its own way. You never know when circumstances will change or when a new future will become your present. There will always be those days where we look back and see that the best days were in past, but we have got to start realizing that we can make any day the best day of our lives. Yes, the future can be looking bright, but so is your present - make the most of it!
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Politics
Living In The Moment Is The Best Way To Live Your Best Life
Yes, we tend to get caught up in our needs, the past, and the future but if you can live in the now, you will end up having a simpler and happier lifestyle.
30 October 2018
383
Rene Jarus
Wherever we go we are in a hurry. Trying to finish a report on time or eat before our next meeting or class. Cities are filled with people running around and shoving others to get where they need to be. In today's society, we all seem to be caught up in the future, what we have to do tomorrow or how we're going to graduate.
We all remain worried, scared or longing for what is about to happen that we don't even see all we have accomplished and what we already have.
Yes, it is essential to prepare for the future and it is completely normal to anticipate what will happen or mourn what occurred in the past, but when doing this too much, it is possible to lose happiness. When living in the moment you are much more likely to be appreciative and grateful for what you have while enjoying life and your successes.
Osho once said that "When you are here and now, sitting totally, not jumping ahead, the miracle has happened. To be in the moment is a miracle." This directly correlates to the fact that we should be treating the now as if it were a gift (literally, because we also call it the present). All of the experiences that people achieve or attend cannot be nearly as enjoyable if we stay in the mindset of what is to come next. However, it is not only what we have to do.
We also become too distracted with physical and mental wants versus what we actually need.
Everyone wants the new iPhone, car, and many other products after already having older models that are in good condition.
It is about anticipation, but many of us still fail to realize that all of this waiting and hoping doesn't get you anywhere and will only leave you more stressed and miserable than before. Learning to appreciate your experiences and materials that you already have is a satisfying feeling that will make you look back and think, I'm glad I did that and really paid attention while doing so, or, good luck I saved my money and didn't waste it all on the newest technology. When doing this not only will you remember those memories better but it will ease stress and anxiety by choosing to make better decisions and living your memories out fully.
Living out every moment to the fullest and focusing in on the moment will make the timeline of your life a whole lot better. First off looking back at your old memories and regretting that you didn't take the leap of faith or really take in all of the amazing opportunities going on is one of the worst feelings.
If you get out everything you can of a situation not only will you feel full of accomplishment but while going through these experiences you will feel happier too.
If you look at your life as getting from one checkpoint to the next, you will never realize what you're missing out on or you will live in a life of constant regret.
For example, if you were in a class where you are required to listen in on lectures and other activities, you want to get everything out of it by asking questions, taking notes, and making connections with others that can possibly benefit you in the future. When going on vacation, it is important to focus on all that is around you such as historical sites or beautiful architecture and nature rather than worrying about all of the things you must do when you return. Living out experiences and opportunities to the fullest will help minimize the amount of regret in your life and increase the amount of contentedness and appreciation.
What I want you to get out of this article is that yes, we all have needs, stressors, and goals that we spend a lot of time thinking about. But it doesn't mean these distractions should overcome the importance of enjoying what you already have and the present life you are living.
Life is too short and if we let the future of past get in the way, we will grow old and have doubts that we didn't live our lives to the full potential.
Living in the moment is necessary for having a lifetime of happiness and accomplishment.
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Lifestyles
Don't Be Afraid Of Rejection, Because You Need To Live Life Before It Passes You By
The last thing you want to do is look back on your life and wonder "if only."
05 September 2018
701
I want to be real, but I can't even be real with myself.
I go through life scared. I go through life constantly wondering "what if." I have urges to live life as if I'm going to die tomorrow and I preach going after whatever it is you want even though I can't even do that myself. What kind of person am I? Someone who can't practice what she preaches? I feel so gutless sometimes.
I wish I could be the person who takes risks and does whatever she wants without fear of what might happen next. Even though I feel this way, there's a piece of work out there that makes me feel as if everything will be okay. I find myself coming back to my favorite book of all time, "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson. The book changed my perspective on life so much that I'm going to get a tattoo of a quote from the book somewhere on my body because the message of the book altered the way I see the world and showed me the way I want to live.
The last page reads:
"And it doesn't matter.
We remember the past, live in the present, and write the future.
The universe may forget us, but our light will brighten the darkness for eons after we've departed this world. The universe may forget us, but it can't forget us until we're gone, and we're still here, our futures still unwritten. We can choose to sit on our asses and wait for the end, or we can live right now. We can march to the edge of the void and scream in defiance. Yell out for all to hear that we do matter. That we are still here, living our absurd bullshit lives, and nothing can take that away from us. Not rogue comets, not black holes, not the heat death of the universe. We may not get to choose how we die, but we can choose how we live.
The universe may forget us, but it doesn't matter. Because we are the ants, and we'll keep marching on.
I want to live life to the fullest and do whatever makes me happy, but that's so hard sometimes. What if I were to die tomorrow? I don't want to have any regrets. I don't want to look back on my life and wonder "if only," as hit tv show "Castle" wonderfully said. I don't want to leave things unsaid and have my life be a life full of worry and regret.
Beautiful things come from taking chances and doing things you thought were impossible.
For example, last summer, I told a certain somebody how I felt about them after we went to dinner. I remember sitting in my closet, heart racing, and palms sweating as I dialed their number. I had never been the type of person to put myself out there. Instead, I would feel all sorts of things for someone but I would keep it on the inside until it went away. This time, however, was different. I knew I couldn't live like that anymore. After telling this person, I found out that feelings were reciprocated and it suddenly became the start of something so unfathomably remarkable. I got the chance to have so many firsts with my best friend. I got the chance to fall in love and have memories that I'll get to keep forever, even though it ended. It felt so good to be so open with my feelings and to be upfront about what I was thinking.
Now, present day, I have forgotten how to be that person. I have forgotten how to be someone who takes chances and makes mistakes because of fear.
Fear: A four-letter, miniscule word that holds so much power.
Why do I let fear control my life? Why does anyone?
Perhaps it's fear of rejection. Perhaps it's fear of not being enough. Perhaps it's the fear that everything could turn out so miserably wrong that we end up talking ourselves out of the things we want to do most.
Wouldn't it be incredible if everyone stopped being so scared all the time? Wouldn't it be incredible if we could live like there is no tomorrow? Because in reality, there may not be a tomorrow. You never know.
So take this article as a call for action. Take a chance. Realize that you can change your life at any second if you really wanted to. You could profess your feelings for someone. You could drop the class that's making you miserable. You could buy yourself those pair of shoes you have been dying for. You could book that trip to New York and save towards it. You could do anything.
Do whatever makes you happy because in reality, what do you have to lose? You never know what the outcome could be.
We need to stop wasting our time waiting for life to happen when it's happening right now.
Take a look around.
Life is happening all around you and you're missing out by waiting around to be happy, while you're waiting around for something to happen.
Make. It. Happen.
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Mental Health
Hey Fellow Worrier Of The Future, It's All Going To Be OK
It will all work out, I promise.
18 July 2018
37
Pexels.com
If you're literally anything like me, you worry about the future way too much. Like really. I worry more about the future than I do about the present. It's kind of a problem. Some people stay awake at night thinking about cringy things they did in the past. But no. I stay awake at night worrying about what is to come in the future. What is going to change when I move off campus next year? Will all my friends stay my friends? Will living with my best friend hinder our friendship? Will I even get into a physical therapy school? What if something awful happens at work tomorrow? Yep, all of these things keep me up at night (but don't get me wrong, I have my fair share of cringy moments that keep me up, too).
So if you are anything like me, the future is what causes most of your anxieties. The future is scary, so I honestly don't blame us. Who knows what is to come. But lately, I have been working extra hard on focusing on the present. So I am here to tell all of you who are fellow worriers like me to let go and know that it's going to work out.
Recently, I was talking to my brother at four in the morning (where all of the good conversations happen) on a drive to the airport. He told me that I worry too much about the future and that is why I'm not happy. He said that he takes things day by day and lets things slide, and this is why he is so happy. I really pondered this the entire way home after dropping him off for his Guatemalan adventure. I hated to admit it to myself, but he had a point. I need to start taking things day by day. Chances are, spending days worrying about something that is months away won't help you at all. Everything happens (and can be fixed) in its due time. Taking things day by day helps to minimize my own anxiety and make it manageable.
I will never forget the metaphor that a doctor once told me. She recommended that I take a bite of something that is bothering or worrying and put it in a box. And that is all that I can worry about for that given day. In addition, if at all possible, she said that the bite that I take for the day should be something that is happening in the next day or two. Not something that is happening in a few weeks or a few months. This makes it all much more manageable and less daunting! If you find yourself worrying about what is coming up in the near future, I highly recommend this box method!
But, above all, we have to remember that everything will work out in the long run. I know this is something that I'm so bad at telling myself. I get caught up in the minute details of life and forget the big picture. Things may seem overwhelming right now, but just remember that it is going to work out. As cliche as it may sound, everything happens for a reason. This is a lesson that I have learned time and time again this summer. So, if you're like me and worry about the future way too much, just take a breath. Remember the present, and take things day by day. You will survive this, too, just as you have survived so much. I believe in you, fellow worrier! We got this!
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