“Well,” said Pooh, “What I Like Best,”-Daily Meditation 6.30.23
Today’s quotation:
“Well,” said Pooh, “what I like best,” and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a perfect thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it, which was better than when you were, but he didn’t know what it was called.-A.A. Milne
Winnie-the-Pooh
Today’s Meditation:
I don’t think that most of us appreciate anticipation nearly enough. It’s a beautiful feeling, one that ends as soon as that which we’ve anticipated arrives. The anticipation of dinner is gone as quickly as dinner comes; the expectation of a nice vacation in a beautiful place disappears as soon as we arrive. That’s okay because that’s how life is, but wouldn’t it be nice if we could fully appreciate and enjoy the feelings that anticipation brings us?
If dinner is late, many people become impatient and focus on the lateness of the meal instead of the greater anticipation. When we’re kids and Christmas takes forever, we often make ourselves miserable because we must wait rather than realizing that we have just that much longer to anticipate something very nice.
A cup of coffee at break time is nice for many people, but so is that time spent looking forward to it. Meeting with a good friend for lunch is great, but I also like to anticipate the meeting, knowing that I will enjoy myself. Sometimes, of course, the anticipation can be negative–a date in court, a performance review from a boss you don’t get along with, or a meeting with someone who’s very negative in many ways. Of course, these things can’t be avoided, but when they do happen, it’s probably better to find something else to think about, as the anticipation won’t make you feel good.
You can add to your enjoyment of anticipation by giving yourself something positive to look forward to as often as possible. Something doesn’t have to have already happened for us to enjoy it, but if it isn’t there in our future as a solid plan, we won’t be able to enjoy the anticipation while waiting.
Questions to consider:
Why is it so easy to overlook anticipation as a positive thing?
What would life be like if we didn’t have things to look forward to?
Do delays generally frustrate you or add to your anticipation? What’s the difference?
For further thought:
Never forget that anticipation is an important part of life. Work’s important, and family’s important, but without excitement, you have nothing. You’re cheating yourself if you refuse to enjoy what’re coming.-Nicholas Sparks
If you missed our last Daily Meditation, it is here.
