Life’s Small Moments Like These

It’s astounding that for first nineteen years of my life I was so consumed with the belief that simultaneously the best days are both behind and ahead of me. Our whole lives we’re withstood from milestones bound by the concept of time. And yet society constantly reinforces the fact that our younger days are ‘the best days of our life’. So which of these is actually true?

Particularly lately I’ve found so many people in my life, myself included, attempting to recreate experiences in hope of grasping onto the initial feeling.  Then when we attempt to continue what we’ve always done we wonder why were left in this cyclical place feeling stuck, lacking as much happiness as before.

I’ve said many times that everything in life is temporary. It’s supposed to be that way. You choose to either fear this or take comfort in it. I have finally learnt that getting caught up in the concept that the best days have already happened will lead to attempting to recreate a time that can never happen again.

My excitement and hope for the future expanded exponentially the moment I accepted and appreciated the moments for simply happening. Just because you’re not doing the same experiences with the same people doesn’t mean you don’t always have the potential to feel what you have in the past. That is the power and the beauty of the mind. Those moments we find ourselves holding onto can never be taken away from us. Which is so sacred and comforting. Not only do I always have the power to feel the incredible experiences I’ve already had, but I open myself up to the rest of the opportunities coming my way.

Equally by living life with the ideology that the best times are always yet to come, you never truly get to appreciate what is. I feel that partially this isn’t our fault, we are innately brought up to continue to reach each milestone. Little did I know how much this mindset could hinder my experiences.

In every part of my life I have been excited for moments to end in order for others to come. Each semester, each day at work, each lesson at school, school in general, the week, the day, even childhood. At each point in my life I have actually been looking forward to all these moments ending, excited for what’s to come. Yet I look back and all these moments are actually what make up my life.

It sounds so apparent and yet it took a whole period of my life to truly acknowledge. These small moments that I once wanted to end, excited for the next part of life, was in fact my life. Had I known how fast it goes when would I have paused? What moments do I wish I appreciated more?

The belief that getting a job, marrying a partner, having kids etc. is going to be the best or worst things that can happen to you can be so detrimental as you place your happiness in the power of times that aren’t the present moment, times you don’t have control over.

The best and worst times of your life are not in the past or the future, they’re exactly where you choose for them to be.  Choose to be completely present in the moments we have control over.

These small moments are what is right now, right this second. They are constantly moving, constantly passing. We are continuously in these moments; in these conversations; in these relationships. These moments are life and our life is now. Appreciate everything in now, the rawness, the emotion, the conversation. Why wish what little time we have away? The moments of happiness you’re looking forward to will never be felt in the past, if not appreciated in the present.

I won’t take it for granted anymore.

Will you?

Happy choosing!