Living in Moments

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

I've seen quotes like this ever since I can remember. Life is about the here and now. It's about the moments, so make every moment count. On and on and on.

This idea sounded nice, but didn't make much sense to me- practically speaking. I had to focus on graduating high school with a decent enough GPA and enough AP classes to get me into a competitive liberal arts school. All this while maintaining my participation in lots of different extracurricular activities to prove that I was well rounded, yet unique and passionate about a few specific areas.

And I sure did get into a competitive liberal arts college. Then I had to focus on choosing a major that was marketable in the "real world,"  obtaining at least 2 internships, holding multiple student leadership positions, and planning what I was going to do after I walked across that stage.

Now that I've successfully completed undergrad and acquired full-time employment, I have accomplished all that was required of me.

Now what?

Life on the other side of the classes and homework seems like one long blob of time that is not nicely and neatly packaged into defined periods. I don't need to move out of my apartment in May. I don't need to know where I want to be in four years when this phase of school ends.

My life is an open book for me to shape and divide as I like. To me, it's actually quite intimidating. But with this realization I was struck by the truth behind all those sayings about moments.

I am no longer distracted by the future or by planning for the next section of life. For the time being I am effectively in the last known section. I'm sure this will change if I get married or have children, but for right now this is my reality until further notice.

And it's great! The thought that whatever I choose to do this very moment is shaping my life and the direction it could go is so freeing and marvelous! Inhibitions are lost and adventures wait around every corner. Go take your moments and live an adventure!

"The spur of the moment is the essence of adventure." -- Anthony Armstrong-Jones