The snowflakes on the recent weather forecast almost set me back.
I don’t like winter because of the cold. I’m okay with it until December 26. Then I’m ready for spring. Each year I wish it away.
However, the passing of my father has made me think differently. Faced with mortality, I’m no longer a fan of aging – that of myself or my family and friends. So I’ve tried to stop wishing time away, especially an entire season. I came across the quote, “You will never be younger than you are today” and although it’s just another way of saying you’re not getting any younger, it had a bigger impact on me. I need to live more in each day, more in the moment.
When I saw the snowflakes and forecast, though, I wanted to slip back into my old way of thinking. After all, to me happiness is:
• 75+ degrees outside
• The beach
• Dining al fresco
• Being on the water
• Flip flops
• Floating in the pool
• Driving with the top down
• Playing golf
I felt myself wishing the next several long months away and had to remind myself to try to enjoy each day instead of always looking ahead.
My husband says he always needs “something” to look forward to – an event, vacation, holiday… I’ve tried to adjust my mindset to enjoying the planning and anticipation of that “something” instead of just wishing the time away until the date arrives.
As a project manager and natural planner, it’s also hard to follow this principle at work. You need to look ahead to be successful, but you can also enjoy the process. Instead of staring at the clock hoping for the end of the day, dig into your tasks. Don’t count the days to the weekend; embrace the challenges of each workday. Instead of living for the end of your project, take pride in the accomplishments along the way and appreciate working alongside your team.
It may be cliché, but it truly is about the journey.
Carpe Diem. Because today, we’re all young.
So sorry to hear about your father’s passing. I myself detest the winter and started driving my wife nuts about it, I wanted to move. One day my wife in a very matter-of-fact way told me: We are not moving. I realized then that I had to get accostumed to living here or get a divorce. I didn’t want to divorce my lovely wife, so I started biking year-round to work. It worked! Seeing how the animals by the Charles River adapt to the cold gave me inspiration to adapt myself. I now own lots of ski masks, goggles and all sorts of clothes for biking in the winter. And I feel happier during the winter months.
Robson – I knew you biked to work year-round but didn’t realize the story behind it. I like the idea of finding things you enjoy such as biking and putting them in a new season or environment. I am going to try to do that, but admittedly my activities will likely be of the indoor ilk!