“What are you looking forward to?” I often ask my English students this in our lessons. Some have an answer straight away. A vacation, Disneyland, getting the next iPhone, a sports day at school. Others need a moment to think. Fair enough.
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Does It Have to Be Something Big?
What would I say? Sometimes, honestly, just my next day off. An early coffee, sitting down at the PC, maybe writing something or getting out for a walk. Nothing particularly exciting to report, but I’m looking forward to it all the same.
It isn’t always a day off, either. If I know I’ll be working alone on the farm, with plenty of physical work to get on with, I sometimes look forward to that too. Six hours outside can really blow away the cobwebs, much like going for a run. I certainly feel it in my body by the end of the day, but my mind feels less cluttered. Perhaps with a clearer head, it’s easier to find other things to look forward to as well.
Some of the women I teach, including those in group lessons, sometimes joke about looking forward to a day or two when their husbands are out. A bit of peace and less to do. I can understand the appeal. Having some time to yourself, without quite so much being expected of you, can be something to look forward to as well.
Looking Forward to Something While Wanting More
Do you have something like that in your week? Something you look forward to, even though it might not come to mind if someone asked about your plans. Perhaps you’re between chapters at the moment, hoping for a new direction but not quite sure what that looks like yet. In the meantime, it’s nice to know there’s a small pleasure coming up. It might not answer the bigger questions, but you can still look forward to it.
Looking forward to a quiet morning doesn’t mean we’ve stopped wanting anything more. We might still want a different job, a relationship, or simply some idea of what to do next. But I don’t think we have to put all our enjoyment on hold until we’ve figured that out. There can still be things we’re glad to have in the diary, even if it’s just a day we’ve kept free.
Is Part of the Enjoyment Knowing It’s Coming?
Sometimes I wonder how much of the enjoyment comes before the thing itself. A day off is still a few days away, but you already have a few ideas about how you’d like to spend it. Or you’ve arranged to meet someone at the weekend, and it’s nice to know that’s happening. Nothing has changed about today’s work or responsibilities, but there’s something ahead you’re pleased about.
Do you enjoy that part too? Thinking about what you’ll do, perhaps making a few plans, or just knowing you’ve got some time coming that belongs to you?
Perhaps what you’re looking forward to is getting back to something you enjoy doing, without anyone asking you to. Sometimes it’s simply knowing that later, when the work is done, we can spend an hour doing our thing.
What Are You Looking Forward To?
So, what are you looking forward to? Have you got something big coming up, or is it something fairly ordinary that you know you’ll enjoy? I’d be interested to hear. It doesn’t have to sound exciting to anyone else.
Related Reads on OldDogZeroTricks
- What’s Your Quality Time These Days?
- Something I’ve Been Noticing About Being Busy
- Are You Slowing Down as You Get Older?
Grant Barker here (aka OldDogZeroTricks). I’m a British expat living in Japan, teaching English, growing vegetables, and writing honestly about aging, purpose, and figuring things out – without the BS.
This blog is where I talk about the stuff most people keep to themselves.
