The Pleasure of Having Something to Look Forward To

There are many things I look forward to in my everyday life, whether that’s an upcoming trip, meeting up with a friend who I haven’t seen in a long time, or my parcel coming in the mail.

I've been thinking lately about how much of happiness actually happens before the thing we're looking forward to.

A trip is exciting long before the plane takes off. A dinner begins by making a reservation. Sometimes a person starts making you smile days before you actually see them.

This is why I like dates that are arranged ahead of time, as anticipation gets to build on my end, and on theirs.

For them, perhaps it's choosing where we'll go, imagining me sitting across from them, wondering what we'll talk about, and looking forward to all the things we might get up to later.

For me, I get to wonder about the person I'm going to meet, the interesting conversations we might have, where the evening might take us, and which beautiful dress I'm going to wear for them.

Not everything we look forward to has to be grand, either. Sometimes it's knowing you're going to your favorite Sunday market tomorrow morning. A book waiting beside your bed. Dinner with someone you love on Friday. The first warm weekend after a long winter.

I think life feels richer when you know there's always something lovely waiting for you on the horizon.

We live in an era of same-day delivery, instant messages, last-minute plans, streaming anything and everything immediately. We're increasingly accustomed to getting what we want quickly.

But perhaps waiting isn't always an inconvenience. Delayed gratification, they say it’s good for you. Sometimes waiting is part of the pleasure.

So, what are you looking forward to?

Whatever it is, I hope you let yourself enjoy the waiting too…

Warmly,

Maxine x ♥️