Inspired by an Old Journal

I loathe the thought of a monotonous life. It scares me to think about the repetitive loop that we find ourselves stuck in. When I think about the last 17 years of my life, I see a variety of experiences. I see my first day of school, my first kiss, the fights I had with my best friend, the tests I passed and the tests I failed. They're all colorful memories, full of life and excitement. The frightening part is that all of these moments will be repeated. I will have another first day of school, I will have more first kisses, I will fight with my friends indefinitely. To this day I wonder if this cycle will eventually cause these experiences to lose their significance. I ponder whether or not the future I have in front of me will be as momentous as my youth.
I recently found an old journal that I wrote in sporadically throughout my freshman and sophomore year of high school. There were entries about everything: my first high school party, the days I would wake up early to go take pictures of the sunrise, the time the boy I liked talked to me. They were all silly and innocent, but extremely impactful moments in my life. One passage stood out in particular. It was in the form of a letter to my future self. I reminded myself to continue seeking adventure, to appreciate the little things in life, and to never forget my dreams. I still worry that I will one day forget these things. I see how easy people get wrapped up in the routine of adulthood. They try their hardest to make the best life for themselves, but forget to truly enjoy their lives. They worry about money instead of adventure. They appreciate only the big moments, and disregard the small things. They sacrifice their dreams to meet what society expects from them. This was what I was warning against when I wrote that entry, and I hope that I can hold onto that warning in the next stage of my life.