It’s a well-worn story. The high-strung CEO that grinds his way through life on high-speed, constantly fretting about the future and protecting himself from it. He spends the prime of his life climbing ladders and achieving greatness, only to skid into retirement and find that he has nothing to do and no idea what to make of it. America is a country derived of many such individuals, who find themselves at a loss without something else to plan for.

American culture is one that focuses almost totally on the vague idea of “tomorrow,” which creates a society of people that are constantly preparing for “the next big sttep” in their lives. As children, we are prepared for elementary school, then middle school, then high school. High school preps students for college, which in turn prepares students for a working career. Working life is spent toiling away, saving money for a rainy day or retirement. When retirement finally comes, many people find themselves wondering where exactly their life went and what they have to show for it.

A life spent entirely in preparation for something else leaves little room to focus on today, and what is actually happening in the “here and now.” The Italians have a wonderful phrase. “Il bel fare niente,” meaning, the beauty of doing nothing.

Most Americans spend so much time rushing through life, trying to ensure that they are prepared for the future, that pleasure and the present are forgotten. Our culture is a mass of tired and burned out people, many wondering what it is they are missing. What’s missing is a little “nothing,” also known as margin, or a pause to appreciate and enjoy life as it is right now. After embracing the now, we may just find that tomorrow is a little less frightening.

Rhyanna Odom is a sophomore majoring in Studio Art. She can be reached for comment at [email protected]