Hello, everyone! 

It is so great to be writing this post. My poor blog has been neglected for a long time, so let me fill you in. I had previously mentioned that I was in school for education, but wanted to change by major. I officially switched my major to Speech and Language Pathology, and I love it! That being said, it’s a lot of work! I am also working as much as I can, and teaching Kid’s Church, and doing my best to enjoy this crazy season of life. 

Finding joy in the moment is a common mantra we are all familiar with. Take time to stop and smell the roses. Stop and take a deep breath. All of these sayings are things that we are inundated with throughout our lives. However, it wasn’t until a recent conversation I had that started making me really consider this concept. Sure we all hear this idea plenty, but I would argue we are more exposed to a conflicting viewpoint. From childhood, we are constantly asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” We are constantly told to dream big, think and plan for the future, and aspire to be everything we can be. I wholeheartedly agree with this concept—in theory. By the time we reach middle school, we have career days and exploration projects. We are being told to begin planning for our future, and by high school, we are choosing colleges, dreaming about becoming a CEO, and waiting for our big breaks that will lead to six figure salaries. There is nothing wrong with planning—I would say it’s wise. We should always aspire to be the best version of ourselves we can be. We should work hard for things we desire, and we should have dreams that make us anticipate the future. However, we put so much emphasis on these ideas, that we never truly enjoy the moment. I have countless examples in my own life. I remember times when I would think, “Okay, awesome, I graduated high school with a good GPA, now to college.” Then, “Great, I have my associates, now what do I want to do to go further?” I would constantly be considering my “next move.” Again, I want to reiterate, these are all great things to do and consider—but I was consumed. I burnt out. It was overwhelming. I have found myself in this cycle time and time again. So what should I do about it? 

A life spent only preparing for the future eventually forgets how to live in the present. 

I began to realize these aspirations, dreams, and goals are what would make me lose my passion for writing consistently. Why would I take time to write when I needed to be doing something to set me up for the future? I was so stressed about each day and making sure I was successful. But that’s just it. There’s always going to be things to do. There’s always going to be things to study. There’s always going to be things to learn. There’s always going to be things to plan. This is what makes life monotonous, and hard, because we will never achieve all there is to achieve, and life loses its beauty. If this constant hunger for more, and unsatisfaction with where I am in the moment drains the world of its color, I need to reconsider! From my Christian perspective, God created beauty. He created each and every one of us, he created nature and everything in it; and he created this beautiful gift of life. If He could do that, why would I try to rid it of its beauty by rushing through every moment—eager for the next. God created us with intricate emotions and intelligence, and abilities to enjoy his creation for a reason. 

We should dream, but while being cognizant of the fact that every day is a dream come true for some. If I find that writing helps me to dwell on life’s beauty, or helps to distract me from hard times, why would I ever allow business to steal that from me? If I find reading helps foster the creativity God has blessed me with, heaven forbid I don’t allow time for it. If I find spending time and playing games with my friends and family fosters love and close relationships that make life so much sweeter, I’d be a fool to remove that time from my schedule. This is still a balance that I have not at all mastered, but something that I am now aware of. It’s a challenge that I am undertaking, and would urge you to do the same. 

Take time to do something that’s not instantly productive. Put life on hold, and enjoy spending time with friends and family. Sing together. Play games together. Read that book you “haven’t had time” to read. Write a story. Write a poem. Paint the picture. Take that hike. Go shopping or thrifting. Cook dinner together. Try new recipes with friends. Do things that allow you to enjoy the life with which God has blessed you. Don’t only enjoy the life, but enjoy the day and the moment. Take the time to put your future on hold to enjoy your present. Be present in the present. Whether this means you put it on your to-do list so you can mark it off, or you simply put everything on hold, make the time. Be satisfied with where you are right now. Of course, there will always be days that happen to be too busy to relax, but take pleasure in accomplishing those daily tasks and ensure you have time to recharge and forget about the future for a bit. Foster relationships that will make accomplishing those dreams down the road so much more fulfilling. This is a journey we are on together, and I’d love to hear your thoughts. 

I hope to be back regularly and add to my blog as God allows my creativity to bloom! I encourage you to take some time today, tomorrow, or this weekend to enjoy the life you are living right now. One day we will all look back, and miss aspects of our current life, so make the most of it! I’ll be in touch soon! 

~ Abbi Grooms