As a 18-year-old senior, it almost feels like there is pressure to have an exciting and fulfilling summer of 2026. How could it not feel that way? It is my last summer, isn’t it?
Strange feelings of excitement and anxiety are leading me up to graduation. It is right around the corner and so I repeat to myself, “Just do whatever, it does not really matter.” But at the same time, it feels like everything does matter. Do something big, you get noticed. But it could lead into positive or negative consequences. Do nothing, and you feel unaccomplished and almost deficient. It feels that way because of the pressure we get from the society. Specifically saying, we need to rush for the adult things in our life as soon as we can. But a part of me longs for the comfort of a slow life.
According to Steve Taylor’s “Time Expansion Experiences” He talks about the consequence of slowing down in life. Which all suggested that it was a positive effect on a person’s social interactions and experiences in their life. Arguably, moving faster will help us get things done to become successful in a shorter period to eventually have the chance to slow down. This idea was not just mine because when I was scrolling through Instagram reels, I found a woman who stated she was going to “reverse-retire”. She would enjoy discovering the world through travel in her 20s instead of waiting till she was older. A slow life? What do I want?
When conversations come up about what I’m doing in the future I become frustrated because I feel like I really need to know what I am doing, but it is ok not to know yet. Society needs to learn to slow down and take time to understand others and make connections. Take time to plan a well laid out trip to discover the unique and diverse cultures in our world because eventually, you will run out of the creative thoughts that build up your gregariousness and bond to our world whether that is mentally, physically, socially, or spiritually.
Slow down but appreciate the time you are given to do remarkable things and create memorable adventures. You don’t want to tell your kids that throughout your 20s all you did was work. What is it you want to express to your future children?
