I’ve spent the last few months going from one responsibility to another. They have been busy, filled with work and saving money. As the season comes to an end, I can say I worked hard – but did I truly live?

There’s nothing wrong with having goals and trying to achieve them, but I have been so focused on one end goal that I realize I have completely put my blinders on to the rest of my life.

I look back and try to remember the last time I truly felt alive, the last time I laughed until I cried or took the time to catch up with an old friend. As I struggled to remember, I realized how important it is to take some time to breathe. Take some time to truly live and enjoy the moments I have, rather than worrying about what is coming up next.

As we get caught up in our own thoughts and lives, it’s hard to stay in touch with others – and even ourselves.

Each night I go to bed exhausted with thoughts running through my mind. I’m worried for the next day: what else can I get done tomorrow? A constant checklist is getting crossed off and finished each day – but I’m losing touch with myself in the process.

As the days wind down, I realize that I haven’t done a very good job lately of growing relationships and getting to know myself better. I was on auto pilot the entire time – focused on what’s next, and not on what I have.

I fill my days with a million to-do items. But if someone asks me what I did that day, I can hardly remember because I wasn’t focusing on the little moments that lead to the bigger picture.

The months flew by and before I know it, the next 20 years will be gone just as fast. I don’t want to look back and think “what happened” when I’ve been here but not really here the entire time.

Get in touch with friends, loved ones and most importantly yourself. Sometimes it’s ok to take some time off to catch up and live a little while on a mission to reach your goals. At the end of the day, success won’t mean anything unless you have people to share it with.

Instead of getting caught up in life’s constant go go go without a break, take a breather. Create a lifestyle that you can genuinely say, “I’m happy” every night rather than going through your worries about what hasn’t even happened yet.

Stay happy, be alive and take on each moment with a smile.

always,
madeline