Preface:

Youthisafleetingmomentthatoftenslipsawaywhenwearenotpayingattention.Sometimes,wegetsocaughtupinthepastorthefuturethatweforgettoappreciatethepresent.ThiswascertainlythecaseforEmily,ayoungwomanwhospentmostofherlifedwellingonwhatcouldhavebeenorwhatmightbe.However,allofthatchangedwhenshemetsomeonewhotaughtherthevalueoflivinginthemoment.Thisisherstory.

1.Emilyhadalwaysbeensomeonewholivedinthepast.Shespentherdaysreminiscingaboutherchildhood,herfirstlove,andalltheopportunitiesshemissedouton.

2.Shewouldoftenlookatoldphotographsandfeelasenseoflongingforatimethathadlongpassed.

3.Emily'sfriendsandfamilywouldtrytotellhertoletgoofthepast,butshecouldn'tseemtoshakeitoff.

4.Herobsessionwiththepasthadcausedhertomissoutonmanyopportunitiesthatcameherway.

5.Oneday,EmilymetayoungmannamedJack,whowaseverythingshewasn't–carefree,spontaneous,andunburdenedbyregret.

6.JacktookEmilyoutonadate,andheshowedherasideoflifeshehadneverseenbefore.

7.Theywentonhikes,triednewfoods,anddancedunderthestars.

8.Emilyfoundherselffeelingaliveinawayshehadn'texperiencedbefore.

9.ItwasasifJackhadopenedupadoortoawholenewworldthatshehadbeenblindtobefore.

10.Forthefirsttimeinalongtime,Emilywashappy.

11.However,astheirrelationshipgrewstronger,Emilystartedtoworryaboutwhatwouldhappenwhentheirtimetogetherended.

12.ShewonderedifJackwasjustapassingphase,orifhewasthekeytounlockingthepresent.

13.Emilyfoundherselfcaughtupinacycleofworryanddoubt,unabletofullyenjoythepresent.

14.Oneday,Jackconfrontedheraboutherfearsandtoldherthatlifewastooshorttobespentworryingaboutthefuture.

15.Heremindedherthatthepresentmomentwasalltheyhad,andthattheyshouldseizeit.

16.Emilyrealizedthathewasright.Shehadspentsomuchtimelivinginthepastorworryingaboutthefuturethatshehadmissedoutonthebeautyofthepresent.

17.Fromthatdayforward,shemadeaconsciousefforttobepresentineverymoment.

18.Shesavoredthetasteofhermorningcoffee,feltthesunonherfaceduringwalks,anddancedlikenoonewaswatching.

19.Emily'snewfoundappreciationforthepresentnotonlyimprovedherrelationshipwithJackbutalsowithherself.

20.Shefeltlighter,morejoyful,andmoreconnectedtotheworldaroundher.

21.Emilyrealizedthatyouthwasn'tjustaboutbeingyounginage,butalsoaboutembracingthepresentandsavoringeverymoment.

22.Asshelookedbackonherlife,EmilywasgratefulforJack,whohadshownherthepoweroflivinginthenow.Sheknewthatfromthatmomenton,shewouldalwaysseizeeveryopportunitytoexperiencelifetothefullest.