WHAT’S NEXT STARTS NOW

August 28, 2025
Drew
Thought

I’m not naturally a patient person. Instead of “get well soon,” I send “GET WELL NOW” cards.

I’ve learned to be more patient with others — to give them space and time to be themselves and do things at their own pace. It remains harder for me to have much patience with myself.

I try to practice mindfulness and appreciation of the processes in which I’m engaged, rather than always fixating only on the anticipated results. But even when I’m enjoying things, part of me is always thinking ahead: what’s next? and then what’s next?

It’s not all bad. Anticipation (even with a dash of impatience) can fuel enthusiasm. I get very excited and delighted by the thought of coming endeavors. Indeed, I’ve noticed that when I’m feeling out of sorts it’s often because I haven’t yet identified the next thing that I’m looking forward to. So, it’s deliberate that I place a few tempting carrots out ahead on a stick, to draw myself forth — into the next play, the next skill, the next recipe, the next vacation, the next project…

The balance of this can be a little tricky, though. While we want to be able to envision a bright future, it’s not great if this is at the expense of the present. Because of course life is always happening now. If we’re not careful, projecting our happiness into imaginary somedays can mean that we postpone ourselves. We can miss out on the joy-peace-love-plenty that’s currently available.

The important thing, I think, is to allow our vision of a bright future to illuminate the moment we’re actually in.

Rather than making the present seem like dim and lifeless drudgery compared to what’s possible, we can allow what’s possible to commence immediately. What’s possible is always emerging out of what’s already so.

The golden sunrise shines not only over some distant horizon but also on every step today. What’s next starts now.

Aristotle wrote about eudaemonia, which translates as “good spirits, “ “wellbeing,” or “flourishing.” An interesting thing about the concept of eudaemonia is that it includes both current satisfaction and the pursuit of meaningful goals. It means approaching life as an opportunity for our ever-unfolding, expansive fulfillment, instead of defining it by our present parameters, limitations, and lacks. It means purposefully embodying and applying our values, ideals, and principles today and always. It’s a matter of integrity, of wholeness.

Anticipation needn’t be the opposite of contentment, an itch for something else/anything else. Anticipation and contentment can be reciprocal, a harmonious resonance between future and present. Depending on how we do it, this might even be an exercise not in impatience but the very definition of patience.

18th century French writer Luc de Clapier said, “Patience is the art of hoping.”

The future I envision kindles who I know myself to be right now. What I hope for the world informs my understanding of present circumstances. And vice-versa. How I see myself and how I see the world, currently, informs what I dare to dream for the future. Back and forth, and onward.

When the future appears bleak, it may be time to pay attention to present blessings. When current circumstances are especially challenging, a future of expansive possibility may be calling.