Don’t be a future junkie

 

We hear, see or read ‘Carpe diem’, ‘YOLO’ and ‘live for the moment’, or words to that effect, practically everyday. However, as we reach the end of the summer and as holiday blues start to set in, we start to tell ourselves that the only way of getting out of our post-holiday depression is to keep a list of  things to look forward to. We start dreaming of a mini-break for a spot of winter sun. Yet, we forget the sayings we find springing from our lips oh-so easily.

 

By thinking to far into the future, are we not forgetting the present?

 

Some of the most gorgeous moments are those fleeting feelings of happiness that are brought about by a smile from a stranger. Indeed, both the little things can make our day. Moreover, by looking ahead too much we can lose our spontaneity – a key ingredient in any recipe book for incredible memories. Taking in your surroundings is an invaluably grounding experience. Taking note of how lucky you are not to be caught up in conflict and to be sitting with a hot cup of tea and a delicious chocolate biscuit rather than worrying where the next meal comes from is humbling. It may sound corny but it is worth doing.

 

What is so wrong with planning ahead?

 

A little organisation never hurt anyone. However, I often find myself accused of being too organised. Therefore, I know I can be a sucker for planning ahead a little too much. Even so, there are a few things that I have to remind myself of once in a while. Firstly, spontaneity brings about fun. It is impossible to organise fun. To have a really balanced lifestyle, occasionally I have to let chaos set in. Secondly, friendships and relationships benefit from flexibility. It feeds a mutual understanding that when it comes down to it, knowing I have people who will drop anything for me makes the possibility of doing small things for them (when it isn’t necessarily convenient) the perfect remedy for my over methodical nature.

 

Isn’t this all a bit sentimental?

 

When travelling, I find that there are points when I am desperate to see faraway friends and family and indulge in home-comforts. In those moments, where it is just not possible to jump on a plane home to my mother’s home-cooked food, I know that just by closing my eyes and thinking of five things that are great in my life. If that doesn’t help, then I push myself to think of five more. Sometimes being a bit sentimental and appreciating the good things in life keeps us sane. In fact, it can simply be a coping mechanism.

 

 

When we are young the future can seem ridiculously exciting. With countless possibilities ahead of us, it is in our nature to look forwards. Let’s not get to far ahead of ourselves and thus miss opportunities that could shape our futures for the better.