I will be the first to admit that I often catch myself looking forward to holidays instead of enjoying the present. Why is it that we so often do that? Is it because students look forward to a break? Is it for big corporations to make more money?

When I talked to junior Tyler Armstrong, he mentioned that students often look forward to holidays because of the breaks that are attached to them. He said “It’s nice to get a break from all the schoolwork and stressful classes. We get to decompress at home and give ourselves a much-needed mental break.”

However, Armstrong also presented a strong counter argument by saying how his everyday life can be just as good as any holiday. He said “I look forward to being able to see my loved ones every day. Whether its friends, teammates, or family.” It really is the people that provide an everyday environment to enjoy and thrive in.

I then asked math teacher David Haut for some advice on how to enjoy the present. He mentioned “practice trying to pay attention to what’s going on in the present. Trying to steer clear of distractions.” He also mentioned being mindful of how you spend your time. Haut said he enjoys spending time with his family and it’s hard to spend time with your family when you have a million distractions around you.

I talked to Ag Science teacher Taylor Myers who had a lovely outlook on what she looks forward to daily from a teacher’s point of view. She said, “As a teacher I love to see students ‘aha’ moments.” She also said that finding one thing each day to look forward to can help you stay excited for every moment. It keeps you in day-to-day life instead of looking so far to the future for holidays.

We often see that stores prepare for holidays very early. This is often because big corporations want to make more money. CNN says, “Every retailer is in a battle to grab as large a share as they can.” In many aspects, everyday life can be very exciting. We all have our reasons for looking ahead or staying in the present, but looking forward doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing.