In a society and generation that is as busy as this one, it is so extremely easy to get caught up in the past or the future and forget about the existence of the present. I am majorly guilty of this mindset that plagues us from our own happiness. Whether it is worrying about a social interaction I had, a test I took, or something that happened that is over and done, I am always overthinking my past and how it will impact my future. Moreover, my focus on the future is so extremely strong sometimes that I really think that what I wear will change the opportunities given to me and the outcome of my life as a whole. This anxiety, worry, and moving farther from the present is something that not only plagues me, my life, and my happiness but also detriments the lives of everyone around me.

Throughout my journey of self-discovery and conscious awareness, I have learned some things about being present through reading, experience, and, self-discovery. However, I know that this struggle to stay in the moment is far from over for me and everyone around me. No matter how much we try, it is really hard not to worry about our past and future and take what is right in front of us for granted. It almost feels as if we are bred and trained to focus on what is next instead of right where we are now. Whether that is saying you can't wait for a new school, a new job, a new city, a new hobby, a better friend, etc. It is almost innate for us to disregard what is right in front of our eyes and worry about how we get to the next best thing.

Well, the solution to this is you know just... be present. However, this is so hard and I truly believe that if we could just do that, it would be so easy to achieve happiness. While this solution is hard, it takes practice. Something I like to do when I find myself going through the motions of every day and just waiting for the future to come is take the time to show gratitude to what I have in this present moment, now. I think about how grateful I am for having the opportunity to find myself in this new place at this important and exciting time, meeting so many new people with unique experiences every day, and how I am so extremely lucky that I have one of the strongest support systems and people in the world.

Even big picture stuff is hard sometimes, so I like to show gratitude for the fact that I get to wake up and breath healthily every day, I get to see the earth and how beautiful it is and I have the power to influence people's lives. While this article was essentially a "brain dump" and allowed me to get things off my mind, it is so extremely important for us to remember to live in the moment and exist in this space.