Happy Right Now

Sitting in a café, half-distracted by the guy who’s loudly “taking a Zoom” at the next table. You’ve got a quality coffee in hand, and for once, no crisis pinging your phone. And still—your brain is trying to plan three years ahead like it’s competing in the Anxiety Olympics.

That’s the trap, right? The endless “what ifs.” Meanwhile, the present is just sitting there, like a puppy begging for attention. (And honestly—if you did have a puppy, your odds of happiness would jump; studies show dog owners are about 24% less likely to die prematurely. Forget green juice—get a four-legger.)

Why the Future’s Overrated

The future doesn’t exist yet. It’s a blank Google Doc. And obsessing over it doesn’t actually make you more prepared, it just makes you more stressed. The American Psychological Association says over 60% of adults report anxiety about “what’s next.” That’s like paying rent on a house you don’t even live in.

As the writer Anne Lamott put it, “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” You don’t unplug in 2043. You unplug now.

Gratitude Is the Original Hack

There’s a reason the whole gratitude-journal thing isn’t just a Pinterest scam. A Harvard study showed people who regularly noted things they were thankful for felt more optimistic and happier overall. Sounds corny, but it’s really just reminding yourself: you made it this far.

Your track record for surviving every “unlivable” day? 100%. Not bad. Really, what was the last thing you didn’t get through? Your are still here, right? And remember that your unlivable day is someone’s easy day. It’s all perspective.

Mortality Has a Megaphone

Average human lifespan globally? Around 73 years. In the U.S., about 77. If that were a pie, most of us are already halfway through the crust. That doesn’t mean panic—it means maybe stop saving joy for “someday.”

Nothing yanks you into the present like sitting with someone you love while they’re sick or dying. It’s brutal, but it’s also clarifying. You realize how little of the noise matters—email threads, bank balances, political views. All that falls away. What’s left are hands being held, shared jokes, a life boiled down to its simplest terms.

Matthew McConaughey writes himself a note when he’s stressed that says: “Remember you are going to die someday.” It’s not morbid; it’s a reset button. It’s a way of saying: if the clock is running, why spend today living like it isn’t?

Dogs, Mortality, and a Dash of Perspective

Buy the ice cream. Laugh at your friend’s terrible joke. Adopt the pup that will definitely chew your shoes but also lower your blood pressure. A partnership of happiness and humility. One day—no one knows when—this round ends. Until then, you’re here.

The Joke’s On Us

We spend so much time forecasting the future like it’s the stock market. Truth is, tomorrow’s script hasn’t even been written yet. And spoiler: worrying doesn’t get you a producer credit.

Right now—coffee warm, dog asleep at your feet, maybe even a text from someone who cares about you—that’s the actual good stuff. If you miss it because you’re busy rehearsing for Act III, that’s on you.

Final Sip

Marcus Aurelius said, “Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.” Ancient wisdom from a guy in a toga, but it still hits.

So next time your brain starts running future spreadsheets, try this: look around, breathe, take a sip. This moment is the only one that’s guaranteed. Might as well enjoy it.