As educators, we often find ourselves looking towards the future - striving for better outcomes for our students and working hard to achieve our professional goals. But in the process of chasing these long-term objectives, it's easy to lose sight of the present moment and the joy that can be found in our daily work.

Many of us have experienced the feeling of putting our heads down and pushing through the present in order to reach a future milestone. While this kind of mental time travel can give us purpose and meaning, it can also leave us feeling unfulfilled when we finally reach our goal. Living too much for the future can actually harm our happiness and well-being in the present.

So what's the solution? The most successful leaders know that it's all about finding a balance between valuing the present and planning for the future. By savoring the everyday moments and finding joy in our daily tasks, we can create a bridge between the present and the future.

For educators, this means finding ways to make our work fun, engaging, and full of learning. Whether we're teaching a lesson, grading papers, or attending meetings, there are always opportunities to appreciate the positive details of our work and find pleasure in the process. When we're faced with tasks that feel tedious or overwhelming, it's important to seek out enjoyable moments and surround ourselves with positivity.

Of course, it's still important to have our eyes on the prize - to set goals and work towards achieving them. But by living mindfully in the present moment and finding joy in our daily work, we can stay motivated and energized for the long haul. Anything less is a recipe for burnout, sourness, and chronic fatigue - all things that we want to avoid as educators who care deeply about our students and our profession. By savoring the moment and finding joy in our daily work, we can create a bridge between the two and stay motivated for the long haul.