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Live in the Present

Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Kayla Harrison
Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Sammi Caramela
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Rowan chapter.

Why, so often, do we assign death to drive us to the present?

Time and time again I find myself thinking about past mistakes or thinking about all of the things I will have to do in the near future.  My busy life drives me forward, but my mind drags behind.  

When I heard of my grandmother’s passing, I found myself saying, “I just wish I could have spent more time with her.”  Don’t we all say that at one point in time?  Why do we wait, as if there is no limit to our lives and others’?  

Being present in the NOW is the answer to our problems.

How do we be present in our 21st century lives?

  1. Let go of the past.  Handwrite a letter to whomever or whatever is keeping you from moving forward.  Take that letter and burn it.  Let it go.  Watch as the flames engulf the anger, the regret, the pain.  Take a deep breath.  In.  Out.  

  2. Release the mess in your mind.  Grab a piece of paper or your computer and just write.  Let every thought pour out onto the page or screen.  Don’t think too much, just let it flow.  If you don’t want to write, talk it out with a friend, family member, or just say it out loud to yourself.  

  3. Make lists.  Twenty-first century society is constantly doing, doing, doing.  There are always things we should be doing or places we need to be.  Make a list of all the things you need to do in the near future.  You can make these lists by day, week, month, or year.  Just write it down.  Getting things on paper, and out of your mind will ease the tension of trying to remember what needs to be done and allows you to focus on the present.

  4. Take a vacation from technology.  Turn off your phone/tablet/computer.  This could be for 5 minutes or 5 hours or even 5 days.  Whatever will allow you to enjoy what’s going on in the world in front of you.  Go for a walk.  Find a path in the park or in your neighborhood and take in the scenery.  Take pictures of the sky or a beautiful garden.  Get coffee with a friend.  Read a book. Have dinner with your family.

  5. Meditate.  Listen to a calming sound like a babbling brook or a soft thunderstorm and close your eyes.  Lay down on the floor and feel your body rise and fall with your breath.  Relax your body and let your mind’s worries float away like clouds.  Release all your troubles, your worries, your doubts.  Breathe in.  Breathe out.

Being more present allows us to connect easier with other people.  We appreciate who’s right in front of us instead of wishing we could be somewhere else with someone else.  

You were placed in this moment for a reason.  So, cherish it.  You might not get another one. Don’t wait to appreciate someone until it’s too late.  

Be present.

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I am a full-time student at Rowan University majoring in both Early Childhood Education and Literary Studies, with a minor in Writing Arts. I absolutely love writing poetry and hope to get some of mine published one day. I LOVE to read, particularly YA fiction. On my free time I like to watch Netflix, or browse Barnes and Noble for my next read, with a caramel macchiato in hand.
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I am a Writing Arts major at Rowan University. Poetry is my best friend. One day, I hope to be a successful writer for a popular magazine in NYC. My dream is to travel to Paris, London, and Rome to explore and write about my experiences there.