Presence is Key.

Walking through the hallways all I seem to hear from my peers is: I can't wait to get out of this place. (Maybe "place" wasn't the exact word that was used, but I figured some decency could be salvaged.) More often now than ever we find ourselves looking forward to the future with our minds preoccupied with menacing agendas and pending tasks that subsequently add to the mounds of stress and pure mental instability that envelops more people than not. Our conscious is clouded with all that was and all that is planned to be. As a high school student, scholarships, teacher recommendations, and college applications are constantly at the forefront of my mind, which removes me from whatever situation or environment I may be in. Physically a student may be trudging through the halls, a coworker pressing on in their cubicle, or even a sister attending a wedding and although 100% of their physical being is present, their body is hollow. If you're not there mentally and emotionally, the moment is compromised. 

"Unease, anxiety, tension, stress, worry - all forms of fear - are caused by too much future, and not enough presence..."

Just as quickly as one can become preoccupied with all that the future may or may not entail, one can become chained to a past they cannot mentally break free of. I know many people (including myself) that have been victims of having their eyes glued to the mirror. Although the reflection is accurate, the image is unwaveringly embedded behind us. The brutal truth is that the past is the past and it's not coming back. To allow the past to seep into the present is to ruin the gift of a new day. Don't poison the innocent potential of today, with the bitter memories of closed chapters. If our minds are filled with fixations of how things used to be, we are unable to fully experience and appreciate how they are now. Time slips by all too discretely to sacrifice seconds living in a presence that no longer exists. 

"...guilt, regret, resentment, grievances, sadness, bitterness, and all forms of non-forgiveness are caused by too much past, and not enough presence."  -Eckhart Tolle

We've ruled out trying to transport into the future, as well as attempting to forever remain in the past.What's left? (It's not a trick-question). If you answered "live in the present," then congratulations, you are wiser than most people I know and receive the oh so valuable prize of common sense. Well done. It's truly so incredibly invaluable to place yourself in the present and to live in the moment. I've never been one to do so until recently. Time after time, stress had me at the end of my rope just about ready to plunge into anything to escape the insurmountable weight. After a chat with an admirable friend and role model, I decided it was time to try something new: focus on one thing at a time as it presents itself. Paying more attention to the exact moment I am in and being fully present physically, mentally, and emotionally has led to an incredible alleviation of stress and a dramatic increase in overall mental health. My relationships have improved, my grades have increased, and I am steadily regaining my sense of self. It's not enough to offer your physical presence to someone. You have to be there, in every way possible.

Recognize and absorb every aspect of the environment you're currently in. The sounds, the smells, the emotion. Pay close attention to the way your friends or family are stringing together words. Don't merely listen to respond, listen to understand. Exile all thoughts irrelevant to the moment. It will set you free. Presence is key.