Accepting Impermanence + Embracing The Now

While I've been having the greatest time in Tel Aviv, I've also been grappling with the realization that everything is temporary and the feeling of pre-mourning the inevitable end of this incredible journey.

A few weeks ago, I was sitting in my kitchen with my roommate when he expressed a similar sentiment saying, "it makes me sad to think that this is all so temporary." In that moment, I tried to comfort him (and myself) by saying we're so lucky to be here and have this experience. But, to be honest, that feeling of impermanence and the discomfort that comes with it hasn't fully left.

This is not a new feeling. I've experienced it before - on family vacations, during a summer fling, and I've seen it in my friends as they approach the end of their senior years of college. The good news is that everything changes. The bad news is that everything changes. It's a tough pill to swallow, but I’m realizing it's a fact of life.

However, I find solace in the fact that I am aware of this impermanence at the early stages of my abroad experience because it has given me a sense of urgency to seize every moment. Instead of letting this feeling bring me down, I have chosen to use it as a reminder to live in the present and cherish each experience. This mindset has allowed me to truly appreciate what I have while I have it rather than taking anything for granted. Ultimately I am viewing this period as a valuable gift that will provide me with more opportunities, rather than simply a temporary experience.

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