As the QUEEN herself once said, “It’s been a while, but I’m glad you came.”

This is not the first time you’ve heard this from me. I could bore you with my routine excuses that are filled with wit and cliché one liners, such as, life got in the way…but, when it comes down to it – they are nothing but that…excuses.

In more ways than one, I have the tendency to be my own worst enemy. Like most people in my generation, I have the potential and opportunity to do anything I set my mind to…and I am fully aware of it. The problem? Well, to be honest – I am really not too sure…but I am making it my main priority to get out of my own way. Life is funny like that, especially when in your mid to late 20’s….the transition to adulthood is both exciting and completely terrifying at the same time. What if, however, we look at the emotion of being terrified in a totally different perspective? Instead of fear, that has the ability to cripple us at the mere thought of it, let’s allow it to empower us. The day we realize that the unknown should not be feared, may be the day that we truly start living life for what it is supposed to be. Stop making plans, wondering what could be, or could have been….and instead, live in the beautiful moment – because you will never get it back.

Now, I am fully aware that this is all easier said than done – but it is possible…and, dare I say – probably worth it. Time is a tricky thing that goes by even when we don’t want it to. Frankly, I have no idea how it has been almost 2 1/2 years since I have gotten my Bachelor’s degree. At the time, it was a cherished accomplishment of mine that I worked very hard for. Now, however, it’s a monthly reminder that I should be making way more money than I am…mostly due to the ridiculous amount of student loans I have to pay. But, whose fault is that? No one else but mine. Sure, we could all stay in our little bubble forever, and ignore our true potential along with the accomplishments we worked our asses off to achieve, or we could stop with the excuses, do something about it, and live the lives we saw for ourselves before fear got in the way. I don’t know about you, but instead of existing – I choose to live.

I also realize how horribly cheesy some of this is, but don’t pretend you can’t relate.

Moving on…

Now, for the next step…taking action. I could sit here all day, and preach to all of you about what you, and I, “should” do to be a functioning adult, a go getter….a person who doesn’t stare at Facebook and Instagram for half the day, and think that there’s nothing wrong with it. But, when it comes down to it – all of this is just words. It is after I press publish, and close the computer screen that those words can actually become my reality.

It is safe to say that the internal struggle is real. You can, for example, be in a situation that has all the promise in the world, but the second you allow negative thoughts and/or fear to take over it can all come crumbling down leaving no chance of recovery. The best thing you can do in those situations is give everything you have not to let your mind drift into a place that is anything but present. Sometimes, it is easy to forget to be mindful…to live in the moment with no chance of regret – that is where the problem begins, and can most certainly end if we are not careful. Many missed opportunities happen when we are too busy worrying about what other people are thinking. With that, our true selves can fade into the distance. Remember in Click when Adam Sandler’s character wanted to fast forward through life only to selfishly get to more successful times? It may have seemed like a brilliant idea at first, but by doing that – his presence was on autopilot to the people who cared about him during the times that truly mattered. Leaving him, in the end, with regret that he missed out on living. In my opinion, one of the worst feeling a person can face is regret of a missed opportunity to experience the happiness that we all deserve…especially if we are the sole reason that it ended up that way.

Until next time…

When you find yourself fading into autopilot, for the love of God – wake up….and press play.