This week, my 18-year-old daughter told me something that stayed with me: how important it is not only to prepare for the future, but also to truly enjoy each day as it comes. As she and her sister prepare to start university, it’s beautiful to witness their excitement and focus. Their eyes are on what’s next, and rightly so.
But her words made me pause.
So often, we are consumed by the next step: the goals, the deadlines, the plans. Especially when you’re young and your whole future is ahead of you. But what about now? Are we too focused on what’s coming to see the value in what already is?
What she reminded me is something I know deep down: we cannot remake the past. The days we rush through, the small moments we ignore, the time we postpone joy, those are moments we don’t get back. And no level of future success can recreate them.
I find myself reflecting not just as a mother, but as a human being. How do we prepare well for what lies ahead, while making sure we don’t forget to live? How do we dream without disconnecting from the present?
Perhaps it starts with gratitude. With a conscious choice to slow down. To celebrate small things. To laugh at dinner. To enjoy the quiet moments in between the milestones.
We all want our children to grow into strong, independent adults. But perhaps the strongest lesson we can share is this: the future is important, but so is today. Because what we make of our days is what we make of our lives.
