Moments In Between
Most of us wake up, go to class or work, doomscroll for a bit, and maybe meet up with someone we haven't seen. Followed by an inevitable crash and back to the same thing the following day. Life starts to feel repetitive, and it’s easy to start thinking, “Is this really it?” I noticed that I would be on a constant search to find moments that would finally make my life worthwhile. My sole focus was on the big moments, such as birthdays, vacations, or major milestones, while slowly missing out on everything else in between. So I started viewing it all differently, and I began romanticizing my life.
I started off the process little by little, like sipping coffee in the car and pretending I was in a movie. I walked around campus with my headphones in and played my favorite song, immersed in my own personal movie soundtrack. I started noticing how pretty the sky looked when the sun was setting, or the feeling of being cozied up in my sweater on a morning. The longer I kept up with it, the more I started feeling like my life actually meant something, even on the most ordinary days. Instead of thinking, “Oh, another cold day.” I would think back to the new jacket in the back of my closet I had excitingly brought mid summer to prep for winter. It can be as simple as rediscovering an old song that I forgot even existed, and then I get to be obsessed all over again.
Romanticizing your life doesn’t necessarily equate to pretending everything is perfect. I still get overwhelmed at times, and I want to be anywhere else doing something else. It’s important to know that choosing to look at everyday moments as special, even just for a second, makes everything feel a little more worth it. Making tea can be a peaceful little ritual. A drive to Target can turn into an adventure. Even late night FaceTime calls or laughing with friends over the dumbest things can start to feel like real memories. I think because we’re so focused on the adrenaline that can give us the new feeling that we all seek for, we forget how much is already happening all around us. And honestly, most of our lives are made up of small moments. So why not enjoy them? Why not see yourself as the main character, even if your life isn’t exactly where you want it to be yet? These aren’t the moments you post about or plan for. They don't have to be artificially made to be enjoyable, but they’re the ones that stick with you every day.
If you reach a point where you feel stuck and you don't feel yourself moving forward, try looking at it differently. Turn up your favorite song. Romanticize your morning walk. Pretend this is the part in the movie where the character is figuring things out. Because this is it. An extraordinary life isn’t built from extraordinary days. It’s built from ordinary ones with care. And it can still be the most beautiful part of your life.
