What are You Waiting For?

I have no idea why I am thinking about this tonight, but sometimes random thoughts come into your head and just feel like sticking around and being mulled over for a while. Tonight is one of those nights, so bear with me. When I graduated last year, I received several copies of the book "Oh the Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss. There is a part in it that talks about "The Waiting Place." It talks about how people tend to get stuck in this place of just waiting. Waiting for something; or maybe nothing. I feel like the great Dr. Seuss had a really good point. I am definitely guilty of getting stuck in "The Waiting Place." I think we all are. People tell themselves, "After high school, my life will get started." Or they say, "When I finally have the job that I want" or "When I am married" or "When we have kids" or "When our kids grow up" or "When I can finally retire, that's when I will be happy." It really is a silly thing that we do. If we spend our whole life waiting for the great things to come, we will miss the great things that are already happening. Wishing your life away is not a good way to make the most of it. When I was at school, I would find myself counting down the days until the weekend, or counting down the days until I could see my family, or counting down the days until the semester would end. Instead, I should have been enjoying the whole journey. If all you have to look forward to is that week when your family is coming to visit, then what do you have after that week is over and you're alone again? It's like kids and Christmas. For a month or more, all they can think about is Christmas morning. Then it comes, and an hour later the presents are all unwrapped and what do you have? Another 365 day wait for the next one. It's a hard habit to break; always looking toward the end goal. I know I will still be guilty of doing it....a lot. It's good to be conscious of though. Life is a journey and it's probably better to enjoy the whole thing, rather than fill it with impatient waiting for a moment of joy, followed by more waiting.

"Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured."