"You are allowed to have gratitude for the present moment and hope for the future at the same time"

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Imagine you’re on a road trip, passing through two different cities to reach your destination. The first city is situated in a populated, busy area. As you drive through the city on the highway, you become enamored with the city's diverse architecture. You're drawn to the way the older historical structures blend with the newer ones. You're paying attention to what's on the billboards and reading the names on the street signs. You're fully present because everything is new to you.

And the reason you're able to do this is that you've learned the art of appreciating your surroundings, even if you're only staying for a short time. And while you’re taking in this city, you’re also thinking about the next city you will be driving through. You’ve never been there, but you’ve heard it’s beautiful. It’s a rural area lined with mountains in the distance, and in the foreground, there are rolling green hills. You love traveling through the area of town you’re in right now, but you’re also excited about where you’re headed. You’re present where you are while also knowing there is more to come.

Perhaps, there are many ways that life can be like this experience. Perhaps being present to the moment doesn’t mean that we can’t look forward to the future. 

In this life, we will travel through many “cities,” and as we travel through them, we will learn and grow. And while we’re still there, we may find ourselves looking ahead...and maybe that’s okay.

There is, of course, the other extreme of only considering the future. However, there are a lot of other times when we have been practicing being present in the moment while still anticipating where we are going or where we hope to go.

There are times when looking forward to the future with hope can make you feel like an ungrounded idealist. You may feel guilty for wanting something more in the future, when there is so much that isn't figured out right now. You might wonder if wanting to fall in love or accomplish a certain goal in the future indicates that you are not happy with your current situation. But, like a road trip between many beautiful cities offering a variety of experiences, your life is much more than just one finite spot on the road. Your life is complex and beautiful; there are many places you have been and many places you still have to go.

So here's to embracing the beauty and wisdom of every place you visit on this journey we call life. Here’s to recognizing the ways you are growing and learning no matter where you are.

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More tomorrow...
Sincerely,
Morgan Harper Nichols
@thestorytellerco
@morganharpernichols