Live Life to the Fullest

Every year since 1996 my family and I have traveled up to the Adirondacks, the same time each year, the 2nd to last week in August. In the Adirondacks we stay at Big Moose Lake, BML as we call it. My grandparents come as well, we all stay in one of the series of cabins lining the shore of the lake. BML has been my second home for as long as I can remember. All year round this is the single week that I am most anxious for. My family and I have founded strong friendships with families that keep this yearly tradition alive as well, this same week every year. Many of my fondest memories take place in this rustic resort.

At BML there are a series of cabins nestled along the edge of the lake, each cabin has its individual name all of which I have memorized; I also remember each family that comes and stays in each cabin every year. Each name suits the cabin and its ‘personality.’ The cabin in which my family and I stay at each year is named Comfort. Comfort is my favorite place, every nook and cranny nestled in corners of the cabin have been explored by my curious fingers when I was younger. My name is etched into the porch railing from 2003, 2004, to 2005. Each morning we wake up at the break of dawn and jump into the freezing depths of Big Moose Lake, this morning ritual was named the ‘Breakfast Club’ ever since it began in 2003. So many moments of my childhood have been spent running from cabin to cabin in bare feet, rushing to explore the woods, the lake, with my friends, and discovering experiences that will never be forgotten.

I remember last year, at BML my friend Victoria and I were sitting on top of one of the cabins. The light of day was just slipping beyond the horizon, casting a pinkish orangish glow above the trees across the lake. It was almost 7:00, we were protected from the crisp late summer air untouched by city bustle and lights of the other parts in New York. We sat for a while talking about our lives and problems with friends and families. Two friends from different states (New York, and New Jersey) two friends that only see each other once a year, but yet the tradition of Big Moose Lake bringing them closer than any friend from their hometowns. This place was truly magic. BML has always been a place for me to be free, escape the bubble that Bedford has created over my head. I remember wishing I could stay there forever, on top of that empty cabin, free from the cruel judgments and drama each school day brings, free from egotistic faces following my every move. I remember that in that moment I realized every second counts especially at this place, I knew that I should live in the moment, in that moment, and never let any second any precious piece of time go to waste. You can never relive it, you can never get it back.

I have had so many moments like this at BML with my two closest friends I have, Emma and Victoria. These two girls that don’t know my life, my friends, my home or school, but yet these are the girls that know me the best. I do not hide anything from them, I never feel threatened that they talk behind backs, I do not have to be anyone around them, just me. This place brings so many amazing experiences each year, ones that I will hold on to forever, ones that the average person would not savor every last bit of. This place has taught me that every second counts, and that we should live in the moment, the present and absorb the thriving life before our eyes.

Looking back on these times at Big Moose lake I feel as if I should pay more attention to the life I’ve been given and not stay drifting in a fictitious dreamland of ‘I wants’ and ‘I wishes,’ a world of ‘ifs’ and covets. I knew that I would have to take more risks, be more spontaneous to have experiences that will last a life time. An opportunity can pass you buy at any given moment without you noticing.

These moments have taught me to make every second count throughout my every day life. I use this lesson to make decisions because it helps me remember to look out for possible opportunities and potential experiences that we must look out for because in life, there is no rewind button that we can use to replay a moment, maybe do something differently. And there is certainly no pause button that we can land on a perfect second, a moment that we will treasure. We must simply hold on to that moment take a mental picture, and remember it forever.

To this day I believe in living life to the fullest and living in the moment. I do not want to get stuck trying to be someone I’m not while life is passing by. Popularity has no effect on my future, I could care less about what parties I’m invited to or who likes me or not. Many girls are so worried about being popular and cool and what they look like, they are missing out on life and the wonders that are hidden within each day. They have become blind to everything but themselves, and I don’t want to be one of those girls.

What matters in life are the experiences you have, not your status in your group of friends, or whether or not your clothes are in style or your hair looks good. Moments that are experienced with true friends and true people are what matter, but girls who care too much about themselves miss out on these moments and that’s why every second counts. Who determined the popular girls anyway? The popular girls did, they believe they are better than everyone else, they are too insecure to care about what really matters in life. They fill their minds with gossip and judgments and block out the life lessons that go along with life experiences. Life experiences they will never have. Girls change their personalities to be someone else’s friend. Every moment brings an experience that we will remember forever, ever solitary second is precious, don’t let any of them go to waste.

This, I believe.