in the moment

“Live in the moment."

We see this quote all the time.  It’s plastered all over cutesy t-shirts, Pinterest boards, instagram stories… but really, in the 21st century, it’s one of the hardest things to do.  We’re always planning our next activities, next family gathering, next holiday, etc… and now we have to buy our movie tickets ahead of time to get a seat?? Everyone says to live in the moment, but how is it possible with the speed we are moving forward?

I am a master planner.  This will never be one of my weaknesses, and I am proud to say that. (Except planning outfits.  That is a weakness, just ask my mother on preparing for rush week). I carry my purse-sized planner with me everywhere.  It’s color-coded and has everything down to the day written down for the next four months. I’m always looking ahead, focusing on the next potential opportunity, the next event I need to plan.

I do this so much that I often miss out on a lot that’s happening here and now.  I get so caught up looking to the future that I miss what’s going on right in front of me.  And some of the planning that I do isn’t always fun, it can be stressful. There are so many different variables in life, that the path your future is going to take is NEVER certain.  And this can become very tedious planning, because you take or miss one step and - OH NO -

Your plan crashes and burns. 

Obliterated.

Forever gone.

And… you’ve spent the past what?  *Months* planning on this? What now?  You missed out on so much joy in the present, and it was all for nothing?

Planning is great.  Planning sets you up for success and opportunities.  But over planning? Sets you up for a lot of heartbreak.  You can’t be so focused on things in the future with your whole heart and soul, because nothing will ever turn out the way you expect.  And if that’s the only thing you are devoting time to, and not life with the people you care about, you have nothing to ever enjoy and love in the present.  You’ll never get to live out what you have planned if you’re always stuck 23 steps ahead.

So I remind you to take a breath, take a break, and let it go for awhile.  Everything is going to work out the way it’s supposed to. But you have to be able to step back and to learn to thrive where you are right now as well.