There are, on average, 25,550 days in an average human life.

That’s a lot of time we spend shaping and living our lives, constantly making decisions that are defining who we are and who we become. But many can spend their time living in the past, many are constantly focused on the future, but even more of us get too busy to even realize that life is lived in the present.

Molded by the Past

Our pasts shape us, the experiences we have, the trauma, the success, the hard work, decisions we make, friendships we create and those that diminish — our past has lasting effect on who we are in the present and what decisions we make as we forge ahead.

But we can’t dwell, stuck in a different time, wishing we had done something different. What happened to us does not have the power to define where we’re going or what we envision our futures to be. But without these past experiences, we wouldn't be who and where we are today, or introspective or discerning as we are now.

Thoughtfully choosing which parts of our past that we let have an impact and which to let go of is the ultimate dance — the constant flow of letting go of the negative and learning from it, and holding onto the good, rejoicing in it and finding gratitude in those experiences.

Where Life Happens

Often overlooked because of the daily hustle and feeling like we live in a blur, the present is where life happens. But when we don’t slow down, we don’t allow ourselves to be aware of what it really means to “live in the present.” The decisions we make and the happiness we create, consistently, day after day, is how we get to where we want to be — fulfilling the visions we have for our life.

Living fully in the present and each small action and interaction adds up to become the stories we create. So we have to laugh, make tough decisions, do things that scare us, live spontaneously, love, be kind, and take action to move us closer to who we strive to be. So in assessing the present, ask: Where am I currently at, what actions am I making on a daily basis that will either sabotage my future self or lead me closer to who I envision her to be?

Caring for an Old Friend

There’s an interesting way to go about how to envision our future — reframing the future version of ourselves as someone we want to nurture in the present and set up for success as she’s on her journey. It’s about thinking of yourself as almost a different person in the future, because after all, she will be different.

So it’s everything from the trivial act of folding laundry today, so the woman you are tomorrow doesn’t have to, to fueling yourself with the proper nutrition today, so the girl inside you in six months isn’t cursing her own name. It’s about nurturing and looking out for this future version of yourself as you would an old friend — not sabotaging her, making her sick, sad or overwhelmed.

I love this concept because it’s a really introspective way to think about how we treat ourselves today directly impacts who we are in the future. To care for our future selves today is one of the ultimate ways to practice self love and self care.

Constantly Moving

The world spins, things are constantly changing, and that’s the beauty of life. We go through seasons, we age, we learn and grow. We become wiser through thoughtful introspection on where we’ve come from, where we are currently and who we’ll become through the decisions we make today.

Nurture yourself and love your future self now — just as you would your mother, grandmother or your daughter — so she can flourish in the future and look back on her past self and be thankful for the kindness you showed her. She’ll be thankful for the thoughtfulness, love and appreciation for who she is, where she’s going and who she’s becoming.