Wisdom Wednesday #1 - Living in the Moment

Hello, and welcome to the first installment of Wisdom Wednesday! Here at Wisdom Wednesday, I aim to provide some motivation, inspiration, and some “wisdom.” Spreading insight is a passion of mine and I wish to make an impact on individuals through personal recounts and other means. 

This week, I would like to discuss living in the moment. Oftentimes, we want to dwell on past mistakes that we have made, leading to regret and embarrassment. This can prevent us from trying again or moving forward.

Inevitably, there will be moments in life where it feels like all we can do is regret the past. One powerful way to approach this is by seeing the past as a learning experience. Without the past, you would not have the knowledge you possess now. Every mistake contributes to your personal growth and should be taken as valuable lessons.

It is so easy to get caught up in the past and worry about the future, but when we do, we miss the beauty of the present. The present is where we can experience life as it unfolds, appreciate our growth, and focus on what can be controlled now. Everything in the past is beyond our control, but the present is not.

I remember a time when I struggled with living in the moment myself. This will sound like a cliche, but please bear with me. In seventh grade, I had completed a math quiz. I was nervous and unconfident in my answer choices. I stared at the summary screen; all the questions were completed, and merely the presence of the submit button was enough to spark uneasiness. I remember not even being able to check over my answers because I was so nervous. I came around to submitting, and my heart sank. I stared at the ominous white screen. It read 60%. I burst into tears. I was disappointed and distraught, and I thought my life was over. I had never received a grade that low in my entire life. 

I had aspirations to apply to a top ten high school in the state, and I thought this one moment ruined my chances. For the next several weeks, instead of focusing on improving my grade or studying for other major assessments, I kept replaying that moment mentally—sixty percent. 

This mentality prevented me from focusing on the present and improving. Even when I tried to sit down and study, I could not shake the memory of that grade. I had failed to realize that fixating on the past does not help. Rather than controlling what I could, I kept that mentality and it affected me negatively.

Eventually, I came to realize that I needed to ask for help when I needed it. I focused on studying, I went to routine office hours, and I slowly started to see my grades improving. I approached every subsequent test as a new opportunity to redeem myself rather than letting a failure define me. It helped me grow as a person. With time, my confidence returned, and I began putting my best effort into everything. I realized that each new day was a chance to grow.

And, I was eventually accepted into my dream school. Living in the present rather than existing in the past is key to success. No single mistake or failure will forever define you as a person; it won’t stop you if you learn from it and focus on the now.

One way I have found to embrace the present is through mindfulness. Whether you focus on your breath, immerse yourself in a task, or observe your surroundings, these practices help keep you grounded in the moment.

Thank you all for tuning into the first edition of Wisdom Wednesday. I hope today’s lesson reminds you to embrace the present and use every moment as an opportunity for growth. Peace and love to you all.

- Jaime Paladi, Public Relations
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