A message you may need to hear.
“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”- Epicurus
I’m writing this to you from the gorgeous mountain town of Ruidoso, NM. As I look up from my screen, I see snow flurrying in front of a backdrop of tall pines. In the other room is the love of my life. We have a cabin in the woods to ourselves for the next month. What could be better?
The next thing, of course.
I think: “This is good, but of course there’s something better.”
I guess it makes sense with my “Expect Great Things To Happen” philosophy. But action without appreciation leads us on an endless cycle of more.
It’s the sad truth of the hamster wheel. We get something, enjoy it for a bit, and then want the next thing.
I was feeling this energy of what’s next when this aphorism stopped me in my tracks. It hit me that the life I’m living now is the one I wanted five years ago—yet here I am, focused on getting what I envision five years later.
We must be conscious of finding the balance between ambition and appreciation. I love progressing, but for next month, I’m working on embracing I already made it.
Maybe you have to?
Remember when you wanted the relationship, house, job, certification, retirement? Now that you’ve gotten it, how can you enjoy what you have? The next thing will always be there, but your life is here. Don’t spoil it.
How can you savor your life? Even if it’s not your highest dream, I’m sure there is something you have now that at one point you wanted. Appreciate that.
The Journey is the Reward.
Enjoy it.