1. The Now

By Jazmine Pope

“The Now” is a multi-faceted idea that can be seen from many different perspectives. Some see it from a more… reckless point of view, like YOLO. They see it as a reason to do all the things they wouldn’t do otherwise. Others see “The Now” as a fleeting moment you’ll never get to have again, and decide to fully focus on it, forgetting that there’s a future after The Now.

I see The Now as a a little bit of both of these, mixed with a little something more. The Now is the time to seize the day, to do something you’d never usually do. And you can’t let it just slip away, because once it’s gone, it’s gone, and you’ll regret not cherishing the time.

But I also believe that while The Now is fleeting, there’s so many different versions of it. The Now you get as a child, carefree with no responsibility; The Now you get as a teenager, the new freedoms and opportunities; The Now you get as an adult, the ability to make an impact on the world. There’s a unique Now for every time in your life. You have to cherish each one, but you can’t mess up the amazing Nows you get later on just so you can have a seemingly spectacular teenage Now. You should live in The Now, but prepare for the next one, because its going to be so rad.

I keep a journal, a daily journal. I’ve kept one since I was in seventh grade. This is how I immortalize The Now. I write down all the amazing things life has shown me, so even if I forget, I’ll still be able to remember. I have all my Nows stored away, so when I’m rounding out my last fantastic one, I’ll remember the Now I had at age 12, 14, 16. Because my Nows are something worth remembering.

So live in The Now. Do what you’ve always wanted to do, be who you’ve always wanted to be. But be ready for the other Nows, the other chances to do what you want and be who you are, because each one is even better than the last.

January 1st, 2016