CARPE DIEM

I’m a planner – a bit of a perfectionist, truth be told – particularly when it comes to plotting my career. I’m big on spreadsheets and lists and analysing every available option to ensure that everything goes as perfectly as possible. But over the past few years, I’ve also had to embrace the concept of ‘living for now’, which contradicts a bit with the planner in me.

When I quit my day job, I had no idea what I was doing, or how I was going to do it, but I embraced the decision and the universe seemed to open up more options to me as I finally accepted who I’ve always wanted to be. Two and a half years later, I have to acknowledge that the more moments I soldier through, the more I realise how much more present I am in them. It’s so important to embrace what you have while you have it, to embrace what you’re capable of while you can, to embrace change as it happens and accept that ultimately, you have no absolute control over the exact course of your life. Things change. People change. Circumstances change. Life is short.

So I packed up my life and decided to move to Cape Town for a few months. Because I can. Because I have no reason not to. Because you never know. While a little terrifying, embracing this concept in its entirety is quite a thrilling space to be in, particularly because I realise how powerful it can be in ensuring that I live. I have absolutely no idea what lies around the corner, which means that all I’m left with is the decision to fully appreciate what I have right now. That’s not to say that I should forget the dreams that I have for the future and pay no attention to what I want for my life.