This is my last year of college and let me tell you, I am excited! I constantly find myself thinking about my future and what is to come. I have Pinterest boards of what my future house and wardrobe will look like. I have lists of dream jobs and places I’d like to work. I am constantly counting down the days until I graduate and can move home. I am always thinking hours, days, months, or even years in advance. I am always anxious for what is going to happen next. The future can hold a lot of exciting things, but the worst habit I have is anticipating what is to come.
What happens to me, and what happens to a lot of other people is that we find fault in the past and worry about the future. We get so caught up in what was and what is to come, that we forget to be present in the now. Something that I have to come to terms with on a regular basis is that what has happened cannot be changed, and what is to come is determined by how we live right now.
A quote from Winnie the Pooh is, “What day is it?” asked Pooh. “It’s today,” squeaked Piglet. “My favorite day,” said Pooh.
Now, this is kind of a sappy quote, but I think it is a valuable lesson to those of us who are constantly worrying about our future. No matter how seamless our life plan seems to be, at the end of the day, we aren’t promised tomorrow. So why do we let ourselves become entrapped by what we cannot change and what we cannot predict? Why aren’t we finding the most potential in each day?
If you’re like me, you want this school year to fly by. You can’t wait for what is to come. But in longing for the future, you miss part of what is going on right now. It’s totally ok to be excited for the future, I am, but don’t let yourself miss out on all the opportunities of today. It is important to make every new day your favorite day. It is important to be present with your thoughts, your words, and your relationships. If you are constantly living in the future, you’re missing out on all of the wonderful things that you could be doing right now.
Life isn’t an episode of That’s So Raven. We can’t gaze into the future. Our days are finite and we do not know when they will end. Don’t waste away your days living in any moment but the present. Resist the urge to wish college away and enjoy it. Don’t worry about what is to come, because it will come in due time. Just live today like it’s your favorite day.
Make sure to like HC Belmont on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, pin with us on Pinterest, and love us on Instagram