Without sounding like
an old lady, there comes a time where it feels like everything is moving in
fast-forward. We’re constantly forced to think of the next step ahead before
we’ve completed the first one, and before we know it we’re tripping over ourselves
trying to stay ‘on track’.
In school we are
constantly reminded to think about what options we want to take, what college
we want to attend. In college it’s what uni we wish to go to, and at uni what
career path we’d like to go down. It’s a constant cycle of decisions and
thinking about the future before we have time to actually digest and appreciate
the present.
All of these
responsibilities make me miss being younger, when my biggest decisions were
what to put on my sandwich or which channel to watch when I got home from
school. But what I have started to notice is that even children these days seem
to be on a race to adulthood, and I can’t help but think that we all need to
slow down.
It seems that everyone
fixates on the privileges of growing up, but forgets the sacrifices and things
we might lose when we’re no longer a child. Seeing your friends every day at
school, having free time on weekdays, kids’ discos, riding your bike for hours
without getting bored, having a small sum of money but still feeling rich
(thanks to no student loan to pay back).
Don’t get me wrong,
there are perks to adulthood, but it makes me sad to see people wishing away
their younger years. Clubs and alcohol will probably be around forever (yes,
I’m aware that I sound like a Mum - drink responsibly), but the freedom of your
imagination, that burst of energy you wake up with because you have your
favourite lesson today… these things might not be around forever.
And it’s not just the
younger generation that I see wishing their time away. It’s everyone. Friends
my age are constantly worrying about the future, questioning their life plan.
Some want to be married by a certain age, have a child by a certain age, maybe
have their own house or dream career by a certain age. And this is great.
Having these aspirations is great. But what I see is the amount of stress that
it inflicts when they feel like they’re not reaching these goals fast enough.
They want to be married in three years so they should already have met their
partner by now but they’re still single. They want to have their own house next
year but their savings are only enough to cover a flat. Their best friend just
got engaged so that means that they should have already met their partner by
now too. It seems that everyone is trying to look over the other side of the
mountain before they’ve actually climbed it.
To wish away each day
in pursuit of tomorrow just seems like a rather unfortunate way to live. I’m
aware that I’m in my last year of uni and that this carries the most importance
in terms of my overall degree and career. But…I’m also aware that I’m in my
last year of uni. (If all goes to plan), I’ll never experience this again, and
so I want to make the most of my time here.
Have you ever stopped
to take a look at where you are now, and to accept that it may not be where you
are next year, or next month? And maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe you’ll move
on to bigger and better things. But whilst aiming for these goals, why not also
enjoy where we are rather than beating ourselves up over where we want to end
up?
Of course, it goes
without saying that it is often practical to think of the future and plan
ahead. My only hope is that we don’t completely lose sight of the present.
Take a moment to enjoy
today’s weather (rain or shine). Appreciate the company that you’re in rather
than daydreaming about your plans next week. Make the most of your day off
rather than being miserable about the shift you have tomorrow.
There’s a fine line
between planning ahead and racing ahead. So please - take a breath.
