Posted by Benjamin on: 09.06.2008 /
My favorite person in the world recently asked me “What are you looking forward to?”
My immediate answer was “There’s nothing I’m looking forward to.”
Which, in one sense, is a rather disheartening answer. And in another sense is a rather dishonest one. Looking forward seems to be a bit of a human thing to do. I, for instance, am actually looking forward to many things that a lot of people can’t look forward to. I’m looking forward to having plenty of food to eat, each and every day for the rest of my life. I’m looking forward to having health care provided for me when, not if, I find myself in need of it. I’m looking forward to sleeping in a warm house this winter, out of the rain. I’m looking forward to engaging in relationship with my current friends as well as new ones I hope to meet. I’m looking forward to doing all these thing for probably another 40 years. Not to mention education, reading, writing, movies, bicycling, motorcycling, sailing, fishing, singing, guitaring, surfing the net, changing the world (that last one I’m not super sure about anymore, truthfully).
What are *you* looking forward to?
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Comment by: joe
1 09/7/08 1:28 PM | Comment Link |I think this is the closest I can get - I am looking forward to being fulfilled. By that I mean I am looking forward to a time in my life when I feel like I am doing something to the best of my ability and seeing tangible positive results from it.
Fulfilled is a bad word, but I couldn’t think immediately of a better one that doesn’t imply self satisfaction or lusting after constant entertainment.
Comment by: Benjamin
2 09/7/08 7:33 PM | Comment Link |Maybe you are talking about something akin to Csikszentmihalyi’s flow?
That *does* sound lovely. You rock for engendering hope for such a thing.
Comment by: Staci
3 09/8/08 1:49 PM | Comment Link |I don’t do so well looking that far ahead, I’m afraid. So I’m looking forward to eating that nice apple I packed for an afternoon snack today. I’m also looking forward to reading the first chapter or so in a new book while enjoying the last of the early evening sunshine.
Comment by: Benjamin
4 09/8/08 2:49 PM | Comment Link |Staci,
I love your answers. Sounds like you have a lot of at least one aspect of mindfulness.
I want to be more like that–looking forward to simple pleasures today. Thank you!
Comment by: Bob
5 09/9/08 10:28 PM | Comment Link |“Flow” would be great right about now, sounds like a noble goal. I’ve had moments of it but no great continuity. Of course sometimes we don’t recognize when we are being useful and contributing because we’re so caught up in doing it to our own invisible standards we miss the joy of doing it.
I’m looking forward to rest. I know that’s boring but I need some in the worst way.
Don’t give up on the changing the world thing. Just remember you do it on a micro level instead of a macro one. I’m glad you’re thinking about it.