Karisma+P's+Op-Ed+Article



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Whatever happened to “living life to the fullest”? Or “living each day like it’s your last”?

We only have one life to live, yet we constantly pressure ourselves into choices that will be better for our future. But what about our present lives? What about our happiness and needs right now? Every moment in life counts. We have no time to waste; yet we miserably spend most of our time stressing instead of doing what we really want to do. Sure, it’s an investment for our future but does education really have to be that stressful?

Oh stress, the revolving cookoo clock always there to annoy the life out of you. The one thing that never goes away, no matter how much we try to get rid of it. It gets in the way of our childhood, happiness and life. It’s the never-ending worry. The constant reminder of all the things we still need to do in order to succeed, improve and help out. It makes us worry about our future more than we need to. Its nerve-racking effect builds our irritation and tolerance with the constant worries of all of our workloads and responsibilities in life, until we just cannot handle it anymore.

However, according to many of the authors we read about this year, life is supposed to be fun, bright and unexpected, not always stressful. Living life without stress is practically impossible though. We’ve all been through those overwhelming sleepless nights studying for vital AP History tests or writing twenty-page essay’s for our economics class while frenzied on coffee. Stress is a part of life.

Being stressed over not obtaining acceptance into college(s), getting an outstandingly high overall GPA, SAT’s and ACT’s, passing AP tests, finding a companion, getting a job, having a family, taking that trip to Spain you’ve been longing for, paying taxes and incomes, having enough money to make ends meet and most of all, being perfect, all hold us back from the thing that matters the most in life, enjoying it.

With all the stress in our way, we tend to miss the little moments and forget about the pleasure it provides. After all, it’s the little things in life that really matter the most. Stress tends to cause us to lose sight of our purpose on this earth and the reason why we chose to take the “rougher road” in the first place. We strive for happiness, prosperity and liberty with it all. But why not live your life now with happiness by taking the time to enjoy oneself, even for only small amounts of time? As much as one stresses over reaching their goal is not worth reaching the goal at all. As Abraham Lincoln once said, “(And) In the end it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.” Therefore, I believe the journey to your goal is actually more important than the goal itself. We must take those times of stress and pressure, and instead savor and enjoy them in life before it is too late to value and appreciate.