In The Moment

Hi friends!

I hope you've all been having a great summer so far. It's hard to believe July is already next week. Time can move pretty quickly when you're not paying attention.

I've been thinking about time quite a bit lately. There are some big events happening in my life right now---weddings, job changes, moving, the book---and that has led to a lot of "waiting" times.

I'm not the biggest fan of waiting.

Truthfully, I can be pretty impatient. Waiting for something, especially if there doesn't appear to be a timeline, can really put me out of sorts. A prolonged period of waiting can make me feel restless or stuck, depending on the situation. And I don't know about you, but waiting can also very easily put me in the grass-is-greener headspace.

During a hard waiting period, it's tempting to start putting your goal on a pedestal. To look at that long-anticipated day or event or dream as the key to all your problems. It's where the "If I just had ___, I'd finally be happy" thoughts are born.

After watching Obsession the other weekend, I wondered what I would do with a magical wishing stick. What would be the thing that would make me happy or content? You only get one, so use it wisely.

If you've seen the movie, you probably wouldn't wish for love (not like that, anyway). But I know in reality, that's something a lot of people are waiting for. Some people think hitting a certain wealth level is the big thing they're waiting for, and would wish for a billion dollars like Ian did. Other people might wish for a big friend group, fame, eternal youth and beauty, or any other thing that would fill the void of discontentment.

And while magic wishing sticks are a fun imagination exercise, the truth is a lot of us are waiting for our Wish to come true. I think most people get caught up with looking to things they don't have and saying "Once I have that, I'll have made it." It's our next goal, the final peak, the Green Light we reach to.

I've thought this way before. I caught myself doing it just the other day, actually. Instead of writing it off, I forced myself to actually sit down and address it. Did I really think if I had (insert dream and desire here) that my life would magically be perfect? If I could snap a One-Wish Willow and get everything I ever wanted, would all my anxiety, discontent, etc. disappear?

I don't think it would.

See, the problem with only focusing on what you're waiting for means you miss what's right in front of you. I know this is a familiar concept for people, and yet it's one that a lot of us keep forgetting.

There's not a far-off thing that will fix all our issues. If you have jealousy and discontentment issues, no amount of money or fame will get rid of that. If you feel lonely, unattractive, or always overlooked, a relationship or nose job won't change that.

But you can change those feelings. You can do it now, even in the "waiting" periods of life. Look to where you are now, and value what and who is around you. The peace and happiness we chase in one dream to the next isn't found in one specific moment or goal; it's found wherever we choose to find it.

Obviously, there's nothing wrong in setting goals or wanting a change. But don't get so caught up in the pursuit that you completely miss the life happening around you right now.

Be in the moment that you're in and enjoy it. Because life's too short to waste by waiting.

Love y'all <3

"Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don't have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless--like chasing the wind."--Ecc. 6:9