Cue Carly Simon – I want to talk about anticipation…and not just the man’s embrace she was desiring. (In case your dad didn’t make you listen to everything 50s-70s on the radio as a kiddo: ANTICIPA-A-TION).
When did life get so busy that we can no longer wait? I found myself recently grumbling about 2 day shipping…on hand soap…delivered to me…on my front door step. WHO. THE. HELL. AM. I? I’m in such a rush in life that I can’t wait for someone to ship me hand soap in 2 days? Maybe this isn’t the best example, because I could clearly swing through the local HyVee and pick up some Dr. Meyers, but the point is not lost. I wanted it instantly. Like I-dream-of-Genie-head-nod make it appear fast.
Times are changing. New technologies allow us to order our stuff online and get it in days, sometimes hours. There’s drive thrus for food and coffee, and you can even ORDER AHEAD at a FAST food restaurant so it is there and waiting the moment we get there. Zero wait. Zero anticipation. We want things, and we want them NOW. Are we lacking patience? Or is it just a commodity that companies can offer so we eat it up: no waiting MUST be better than waiting.
So, I ask, what’s the harm in waiting once in awhile? As a child I remember the anticipation of Christmas and birthdays. Am I right that the weeks leading up to Christmas is far better than the evening of Christmas? The spirit, the constant loop of Christmas movies, the decorating and baking and wrapping (I’m kidding, I still loathe wrapping presents). Then Christmas evening when the gifts are given and the celebrations are over, I have this hole-in-my-heart feeling. 364 more days until I get to see that glow in my babies’ eyes again. Or the week before vacation – getting ready, packing, ANTICIPATING freedom and relaxation. Then the last day of vacation you feel the gloom of having to return to the real world again. Wuff – it’s tangible gloom.
Have you ever saved up your money for something big? As a child I wanted a trampoline so badly…I saved every dime of my babysitting money. Counted it endlessly. Looked at the trampoline every time we went to the store. I WAS SO DAMN EXCITED to get that trampoline. Truth be told, I don’t remember a lot of time jumping on the trampoline after (this may be because my brother and his huge friends jumped on it and stretched out the springs…giant jerks!)…but I remember WANTING it. I remember saving for it. I remember the anticipation.
And it never fails – I will count down the days to a concert – and then about mid-set I start to feel a bit sad…it must come to an end: so am I sad that it’s half over or that the excitement and anticipation is gone? For the record, this is probably why I have a constant concert schedule in place. NEVER-ENDING ANTICIPATION. 🙂
Yes, our schedules are fuller than they’ve ever been. We’re not living in the days of Andy Griffith: the demands of today’s society are higher. Social expectations say that if we aren’t getting 286 things checked off of a list then we aren’t succeeding. Efficiency is a skill, that’s for sure. The phrase “wait time” carries a hugely negative connotation. But doesn’t the thought of sipping lemonade on the porch swing sound better than toe tapping and watch-glancing in anxiety.
I think we may be cheating the next generation (and ourselves). Each day that passes we remove more waiting from our life. Then we get mad at our kids because they want their food NOW and they crave constant attention and entertainment. Go to a restaurant once and look around for the families – how many kids can you count on phones/tablets? Yes, distraction is great because ain’t no one want to hear kids screaming about how hungry they are…but you have to catch my drift some. We are slowly removing their (and our) ability to wait. Even worse, I fear we’re thieving them of the excitement that comes with the wait…the crazy magic of anticipation.