The luxury of living in the moment

The matric dance is arguably the most exciting part of the matric year – second to finishing it, of course. It’s all about getting dressed up, taking some nice pictures, hearing some speeches, and then running off to an afterparty to dance until the early morning.

So when lockdown was announced and matriculants around South Africa realised that the matric dance was probably off the cards, it resulted in some wallowing.

For some, it was cause for celebration – no need to spend money on a dress or suit, no need to find a date, no need to go to a party they didn’t really want to go to. Personally, I was on the fence.

I was fortunate enough to go to a matric dance last year, as Grade 11s at my school are invited because they are involved in organising the event. So, I wasn’t too upset about missing the dance – I’d had the opportunity already.

On the other hand, I love putting on make-up and a nice pair of heels, eating delicious Gary Friedman food, and just enjoying time with my friends. So while I wasn’t devastated, I was, naturally, a bit upset.

And then, at the beginning of August, as the restrictions began lifting and life began settling into some form of normality, our school management informed us that we would be having a combined matric dance and valedictory ceremony.

We could come dressed up, supper would be served, and we would get some semblance of the night we had all been mourning for months. I can’t say I had high hopes.

It would be nothing like the usual matric dances. I was worried. It turned out that that worry is what ended up making the night so beautiful.

Instead of the HOD, our school field was decorated in fairy lights and candles, foregrounding a magnificent sunset and the tempting smell of Burger & Brew. It was a night of camaraderie – loud cheers and claps as people went up for awards, dancing (in a socially distant manner), and laughing at the speeches of our vice-head students. (As is tradition, they roasted the entire class.)

It was possibly one of the best nights of my life, a time where I could live totally and blissfully in the moment, which is something I think we’ve all lost sight of during this pandemic.

For once, I wasn’t stressing about the future – I was living, and enjoying it. I can’t remember the last time I felt like that, and therein lies the message.

I’ve learnt the importance of living in the moment. I urge all of you to stop for a moment, and be grateful for where you are. Live in it, instead of stressing about exams, supper, or COVID-19.

When talking about anxiety, my mother told me, “Dan, we all have it.” A sad reality, and one that can’t be fixed with a few words from a 17-year-old such as myself.

But – and apologies for the cliché – what I can do is pass on some lessons I’ve learnt in the past few weeks: Breathe. Focus on today. Don’t panic about things beyond your control. And keep in mind that, in spite of the sadness, anxiety, and pessimism, my matric dance still happened. And it was beautiful.