Are You Listening?
With the many goals we want to reach, we sometimes think too much about what might happen in the future instead of grasping the present moment. Lately, I have sometimes caught myself talking to someone, nodding my head, without understanding a word they are saying; or mindlessly driving home, listening to the radio, without giving a single thought to what the song is about. I have now realized how much time I lost thinking of the past or future and failing to enjoy the small moments. Because of this realization, I have decided to focus on the present and have started really living my life.
Over the last few years, I developed a habit of multitasking and taking things for granted. Driving, I often turned on the radio to beat the silence. Once the radio was on, I listened to the song sporadically. I took music for granted, preventing myself from appreciating its art. While watching TV, I would also be on my phone, surfing through social media. Now realizing how many chances I lost, I knew this had to change.
I started doing less at a time. I now give particular tasks my full attention. Now, when listening to music, I focus on each and every word the artists say, notice how they say it, their emotions, and beats playing simultaneously. I am feeding my soul by truly experiencing music, feeling each beat going with my breathing. While watching my favorite TV show, I laugh hysterically on so many of the scenes I did not understand before. I observe the cast’s facial expressions, script pronunciations and overall behaviors, appreciating each of the characters’ importance in the show. I find myself more entertained than before.
The future will come inevitably. Worrying about the future meant suffering through the same emotions twice. Overthinking gave me anxiety. By trying to live in the moment, I appreciate those I love and my experiences more. I want to prevent myself from regretting missing the moments I could have had and instead just have them! There are many moments where I wish I had been there 100%. Many times I missed the joke, the test question, the beauty of what was around me because I was too busy having a conversation within my own head. Now, I am learning to open up my mind, appreciate, and accept things as they are.
Mikee Gonzales received her Bachelors of Science in Biology in December 2018. She has been a member of the Interactive Measurement Group for the past four semesters. She is currently working as a laboratory technician. In the near future, she hopes to obtain her PhD in Environment and Sustainability.