Time is a scary thing. Everyone always tells you how fast it goes and how you need to take advantage of every moment because you never know what could happen. I have recently been thinking about just how fast time has gone. I was thinking back to last fall and I realized that it seems like six years since the leaves were just starting to turn color and fall off the trees. I get confused and remember that it was only a few short months ago. It was only a few short months ago that I was stressing about finals, and now I have to take them again in just a few short weeks. The concept of time is so mind-blowing and these days I feel like it's just slipping away.
Whenever people tell me to simply "live in the moment" I just roll my eyes. We live in a society where living in the future seems to be the most notable behavior. Everywhere you go you are asked what you plan to do with your life. We are in college to make our futures brighter and basically plan the beginning of the rest of our lives. It's hard to live in the moment when you are constantly under pressure and stressing out about applying for jobs and internships.
The truth is, I don't like thinking about the future. It scares me. It is scary to think that at just 20 years old you are forced to think about the rest of your life. How are we supposed to know what we want to do? College is the time of discovery both for yourself, and for the world. It's hard to plan for the future when there is still so much you want to do right now.
I have come across multiple people in my life with a fantastic outlook on this whole "living in the moment" thing. I would talk to them and ask what their plans are for the future. I would even ask them what their plans were for the following day. They would simply respond "Who knows? We'll cross that road when we get there." That got me thinking about how great it is to not have plans. I have always been spontaneous, and I think it's the best way to be. You don't know what could happen in the future. The world could end tomorrow. And if it did, what regrets would you have? I know it is hard to think about life that way, and I'll admit, even I struggle with it. I am a strong believer in planning for the future but life is also about balance. If you are so busy planning for what's to come, you are going to miss out on things that are happening right in front of you.
So next time you are thinking about the next internship you are applying for, or the next job you should research, just take a moment and appreciate where you are right now. Appreciate the people around you and the environment you live in. Seize the day and make the most of the time you have. You are only in college once, so live it up and enjoy the now.
"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment." -Buddha
