Learning to live in the moment

Time: How many of us have it? Many of us spend our whole lives procrastinating. We procrastinate doing our homework. We procrastinate writing our papers. We procrastinate when it comes to studying for tests. We procrastinate when it comes time to go to the gym and work out.

Another thing I have noticed is that many of us procrastinate when getting to know new people. How many conversations have you had with your friends, talking about the cute guy or girl in your class whom you have yet to talk to? How many conversations have you had with your friends discussing the guy or girl you see every day walking to class whom you are interested in, but you have yet to say hello or wave to them?

I know what you are thinking: "That would be soooo awkward. I would never do anything like that. I don't even know them."

And that is exactly my point.

Too many times we say we are waiting for the right moment or the right time to act. But why not make use of the time you have now? You never know what someone else is thinking until you get to know them and find out. We constantly put ourselves down and never place ourselves in a position to succeed.

Allow me to try to change your perspective on the situation. Let us look at the situation as if you were a potential candidate for a new job.

The first step in getting a job is taking the time to apply. We all know that if you do not apply for the job you want, there is no way you will ever get hired. You have to make yourself known. Living life on the sidelines, talking about what you could have done or should have done, will not help you get noticed or give you any brownie points. This does not have to be strategic or well-planned. Making yourself known is as easy as saying hello.

Step two: Stay in contact. Just because you have made yourself known does not ensure you have the job. Many of you know this about applying to a job, but many of you do not. It is important to stay in contact with the employer to see how the application process is going. This simply means, do not just say hello one time. Make it a habitual act. Throw in a smile and wave here and there. This will help the interview process be less "awkward."

Step three will require you to muster up some confidence and remember the week-one article about rejection. The third step to making yourself known is having a conversation that goes further than: "Hi! How are you doing?"

This is the time when you have to sell yourself. This conversation does not have to be long, nor does it have to be deep. The goal of this conversation is to prove you are interesting and worth getting to know.

You do not need any clever or witty pick-up lines. Just be yourself and try to find some common interests between you two. Finding a few things you have in common will help spur further conversation, which is beneficial in multiple ways. You can now decide whether you want to spend your time getting to know this person or whether it would be a waste of your time. BUT, you will never know if you never open your mouth and speak.

I urge you to not let this year go by having any regrets. Live in the moment. Seize the day. Live each day as if it were your last. Explore your curiosities. Stop having conversations with your friends about how cute or how cool this guy or girl is. Don't talk about it. Be about it. The ball is in your court. Be proactive, not reactive. In the wise words of Kelly Clarkson: "Take a chance. Take a risk. Break away"