IS IT JUST YOU, OR ARE THE DAYS GETTING SHORTER?
BY NICOLE BELL ILLUSTRATION BY KENDALL WIFF
We’re all guilty of wishing we were somewhere else. It’s common to find ourselves saying, “I can’t wait to be back on campus,” “I can’t wait to graduate,” or “I can’t wait to start a family.” At the same time, we often wish we could go back to when we were younger and life felt simpler. It’s common to feel like you’re juggling schedules in an attempt to balance school, work, and a social life, while also wishing there were more than 24 hours in the day. It’s easy to get caught up in thinking about the memories we’ve already made and the ones we have yet to make, but what about the time we have right now?
We say we’re too busy for the present, yet we somehow manage to fantasize about the future and long for the past. If we really acknowledged the moment we’re in right now, would that give us enough time to enjoy all 24 hours in a day? Would it give us enough time to enjoy every day, week, month, and the roughly 75 years we get to experience on this Earth?
I’ve concluded that there will never be enough time, but the best you can do is show up for the current you, make the past you proud, and give the future you something to build on and be grateful for. Whether that means saying ‘yes’ to every opportunity, putting yourself first, or spending one hour each day reflecting on the day.
Work long and hard during the day so you can go out with your friends on a Tuesday night. Start your morning in the gym so you don’t feel bad about that late-night Whit’s run with your roommates. Spend your last $20 on a journal and a new pen to motivate yourself to reflect on the day you’ve had.
Life is precious and limited. You are the only person on this planet with your exact DNA and life experiences. You are the only person who’s been with you every day through your hardest laughs, most gut-wrenching cries, and most embarrassing moments. Why waste time in your 24 hours worrying about other people’s lives and opinions, including the opinions of past you and future you?
I’m not saying you shouldn’t look forward to the future or reflect on the past. Instead, you need to recognize that you are here right now. No matter how much you bask in nostalgia or fantasize about your future, there will still only be 24 hours in a day. There were 24 hours yesterday, and there will be 24 more tomorrow. Time will never speed up, nor will it slow down.
So, go ahead and take a walk. Call your best friend. Take hundreds of pictures. Start a note in your phone called “Things I’ll Miss About Right Now.” As they say, there’s no better time than the present. With that being said, please do yourself a favor and make the most out of your next 24 hours.
