“Live every day like it is your last”
“Carpe diem”
“Yolo”
All of these quotes are supposed to inspire you to live your best life. They are supposed to encourage you to do what makes you happy every day. You are supposed to do what you want in the moment because you don’t know when you’re going to die. However, thinking about that gives me a lot of anxiety! It creates an imaginary pressure on you to conquer the day and accomplish all you can each day. How am I supposed to live every day like it is my last when I am currently sitting in my bedroom eating carrots and typing this up?! If I was truly living everyday like it was my last, I would be hiking through a forest in a foreign country instead of sitting in my bedroom in Kent, Ohio. These quotes can cause a level of anxiety or pressure on those that feel the need to accomplish all that they possibly can everyday because it might be their last. THAT IS A LOT! Sometimes it’s okay to not be incredibly productive. Sometimes it’s okay to have those days where you sit in your bed and binge watch New Girl.
In life, it’s important to find a balance between living every day like it is your last and also doing things throughout each day that will benefit you in the future. Yes, life is precious and you don’t know when it will be your last day on this Earth. However, you don’t know when it will be your last day on this Earth! You could still have a long life ahead of you and it is important to take breaks every once in a while. It is okay to rest. Rest benefits your future. It is okay to spend a day with little excitement. That’s life. Not everyday is going to be amazing, or productive or extravagant. You must spend some days rejuvenating or working to earn money for your future, or working out to keep your body healthy.
Personally, I spent a lot of time living by the motto “live every day like it’s your last” and that created a pressure on my day to day life that was far more than should be handled. I would put this burden on myself to live a crazy life full of adventure. However, once I realized that I can not possibly fit everything into one day, I discovered a sense of peace that I was missing. I began to learn to lay and rest. I began to discover that sometimes you have to do things that are not fun but will benefit you in the long run.
Rest, take care of your body and mind and most importantly do not let unnecessary pressures be put on you. Live your life in a way that cares for and nurtures your soul.