I have a habit shared by a few million others right now: wishing away a period of time.
For me, this involves dreaming of the day after something I must do that (a) is stressful or (b) might be mundane, but necessary or (c) involves a treadmill. In the case of said million others, there seems to be a desire for tomorrow to be Nov. 9, the day after the presidential election. I get it. We’re nearing the saturation point of ugly accusations, innuendoes and threats — and I’m just talking about Facebook posts.
But, I’m trying to change my fast-forwarding mindset. Here’s why: It is not helping.
Hostile election seasons aside, I’ve decided to make the most of each day; unoriginal, I know, yet, awfully hard to do.
I blame Apple and whoever invented Outlook. First, my phone is constantly pinging me reminders of things I must do. Sure, I can modify my notification prompts, but they’re still there, those minute-by-minute calendar items taunting me and whispering in my ear, “Amy, just because you swipe ‘clear’ on an event doesn’t make it go away.” Such a know-it-all, my smartphone.
The real blame, of course, falls on me, the feeble master of my scheduling destiny.
We live in a culture of “busy,” or, as some lament, “crazy busy,” which, translated, means a life chock full of things to do. And it appears there is no down time. Here’s the thing: I don’t do crazy busy. At this stage, I’ve perfected the antidote to crazy busy: crazy napping. But, life has gotten so hectic lately that I find myself looking forward to that elusive down time. Often, it’s a weekend with no scheduled plans or a holiday in which serious snoozing can occur.
Here is where I fall into the Wish-Away Trap. I start wishing away my busy days, anxious to get beyond them.
“This time next week, I’ll have that project done,” or “If I can get to Friday, I can relax.” My favorite Play It Forward, however, is the most maternal one: “In just four weeks, I’ll have all of my family under my roof together on college break.”
Which brings me to the elections.
Increasingly, the collective sentiment is the desire to hunker down and pray for post-election daylight. Yet, another Wish Away. To all of you feeling the same way, I offer my humble attempt to resolve this plight with one simple action: Want Today Instead of Wish for Tomorrow.
The wise poet Garth Brooks sang that we must be mindful if tomorrow never comes, so let’s make sure we have few regrets. Hence, I’ve begun prioritizing activities into my calendar that should be on the top, not the bottom, of the proverbial To Do list. My time blocks are quite straightforward with titles such as “Family” “Fun” and, even the once-dreaded “Health Hour” that involves walking with friends whom I never get to see.
Suddenly, I love exercising! Walking and talking? I’m in!
But, what to do for the next two weeks?
A good start would be to step away from clicking on social media or television. Dial into actually being with someone or something you care about. This doesn’t mean you have to shun the political process. Quite the opposite. This election cycle, I’ve heard a lot of voters talk about social causes, and you know what? Those causes still need help – the homeless shelters, the Title I schools, indigent health care. Show up. You’ll make a difference. Each day. Not tomorrow or the week after.
Only one thing is certain: I have this moment right in front of me. I want to make it count.