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Imagine this:
You walk down the stage at your high school graduation, shake the hand of your principal, take a picture with them, grab your fake diploma, and leave the stage. After the ceremony, someone asks, “So… what’s next?”. You proceed to explain that you are going to [insert college] to pursue your interest in computer science. Same thing again, you walk down the stage of your now college graduation, a smile on your face, and diploma in hand. Again, you’re asked, “What’s next?”. You explain that you are working on a start-up that is aimed at combining computer science with solving climate change. One year later, the startup failed, and you’re left with the lingering question: “So, what now?”
It’s not always about the past nor is it about the future.
It’s the past, and you can’t go back. It’s the future, and you’re not there yet. But do you know where you are? Here. Like right now, you are here, reading this article. In all honesty, though, you are probably thinking, somewhere in the back of your head, what else it is that you have to finish today. You’re wondering what important tasks you’ve forgotten, or you might just be writing your to-do list as you read this.
Pause.
Drop what you’re doing (unless it’s a glass plate, don’t actually do that), and give me your undivided attention. Don’t think about that email you forgot to send or the dog food you have to buy. I promise - you will have time for that later.
Do you ever wonder why we’re always thinking about what’s next? Do you ever stop to think about what’s happening like right now in your life? I do. In fact, I think about that every day - are we spending so much time thinking about what’s to come that time is moving so fast that we’re unable to even sit down for a second and just breathe? Like why? Why do we do that?
I do this too.
Right after I publish one article, I start thinking about the next one. After I published my first book, I began brainstorming ideas for the next which was still one year away. After a great dinner at a restaurant, I wonder what I am going to get next time.
But what if I savored the food I just ate instead of craving for what’s to come next time? What if I basked in the glory of publishing a book? And what if I pat myself on the back for getting back in the flow of writing articles?
I’ve been saying the word “pause” a lot recently, and I think it’s because that’s what I want to do. I want to pause, just breathe, relax, and think about what is happening. Right. Now. Right now, I am listening to music - some of my favorites, actually - while writing what has been on my mind for a while now.
In all honesty, right now, I’m a hypocrite for what I am writing in this article. It’s currently 10:05, and in about 15 minutes, my puppy wakes up from his nap, so I’m thinking about what’s to come when he wakes up. But I’m going to tell myself something, and I want you to do it too.
Pause.
Thanks for reading! I hope you take some time to pause today and reflect on all the amazing things you’re doing and achieving. You’re so amazing! Not when you won that soccer game or when you will get an A on that test, but right now.