Life is Too Short to Not be a Day Dreamer

 It’s an awkward feeling when old T.V. shows seem to make more sense than your life. This weekend I’ve had more than a little too much time on my hands. I got some new make-up, got my nails done, and even enjoyed a Vanilla White Chocolate Mocha—caffeine at its best. All in all, it has been relaxing and even somewhat productive. But the best part of my weekend has been catching up with my old friends: Rachel, Ross, Monica, Chandler, Phoebe, and of course Joey.

We’ve had a lot of catching up to do. The last one I watched was “The One Where They All Turn Thirty.” Basically, I learned three things:

1. I forgot how funny Friends is
2. I must not turn out like Rachel Green when I’m 30
3. But most importantly, life is goes by insanely fast

This year, I’ve learned a lot about myself by accident. But what’s more is that I’ve discovered a lot about what’s important to me. I think the things that are most important to us are the very things that define us. I found out how mad I am about writing. To some degree I’ve always known I was different and that writing was unmistakably a part of me.

My whole life I’ve lived in an imaginary world, trapped inside my own head. I’m the day dreamer extremist. Every morning on my way to the bus, I would describe the setting around in me in a way that would turn it into a story—or even better a new world. During long car trips, I was the architect to a secret place I would rather be. I even hoped for the extraordinary. In sixth grade, I was nearly brought to tears from the letter I never received. I was sure the owl with my acceptance letter to Hogwarts was injured or lost.

Rachel reminded me how important it is to enjoy life and embrace the unexpected. She showed me this by doing the opposite and totally freaking out about turning thirty, but nonetheless, message received. Things aren’t always going to turn out how you plan. When I was a little dreamer, waiting to be brought into a fantasy world, I imagined being seventeen would be the most wonderful thing of my life. It seemed so glamorous and fun. Maybe it’s because of what kind of person I am and how I spend my weekend, but now that I’m here it just seems like just another year. Things are different but not at all what I expected.

Watching Friends reminded me of times I miss, but it also reminded me of all the times I still have ahead of me. I try to be careful in making plans, because we really don’t know how anything is going to turn out or how long we’ll be around to follow through. But I decided to make a list of things to do anyway:

1. Watch Friends more often
2. Enjoy the rest of this year and stop being so concerned about grades and tests—life goes on
3. Think about the future a little bit, but start living in the present—you won’t get this time back.