Waiting for Someday by Melanie
Someday, I’ll see the world.
I’ll travel and explore the unknown.
Scuba diving, mountain climbing, from the deepest oceans to the highest peaks.
A lifetime of adventure is what I’ll seek.
Someday.
Someday, I’ll learn a new skill.
I’ll paint and craft, build and tinker.
Creating masterpieces in form and function.
A master – that’s what I’ll be.
Someday.
Someday, I’ll learn something new.
I’ll go back to school and earn a degree.
History, literature, physics, or biology,
An expert in my specialty.
Someday.
Someday, I’ll have time for them.
My family and my oldest friends.
We’ll talk and laugh, cherishing the moments we spend together.
A life filled with community.
Someday.
But today, I must toil.
Today, I must work to pay the bills
To fund my dreams and hope for that someday
And when I’m old and grey
I’ll regret not doing it all today
I’m waiting for someday, but it will never come
Are You Waiting for Someday?
How many times have you put something you wanted off, saying you’ll do it someday? And how often have you actually done it?
I’ve been wanting to travel to Japan for the last five years. I keep putting it off. There’s always something. I can’t afford the tickets. I lost my job. The people who want to come can’t this year. I don’t have enough time off.
It’s always a dream, never accomplished.
What’s on your someday list?
Why Wait?
What are you waiting for? Why is your dream punted off to a someday that will never come?
I know the answer. Believe me, I know. I have the same excuses.
Here, we’ll explore why we put off our hopes and dreams to “someday” and find ways to overcome obstacles and pursue them today.
Top Excuses for Waiting for Someday
Most of us have four massive excuses for putting things off till that ethereal someday:
- Money
- Time
- Energy
- Responsibilities
Money
We can’t afford to do the things we want. I get that life costs money. After we spend all our money on the things we need, there’s precious little left for the things we want.
Time
We spend all our time working for the money we need to survive. At the end of the day, we barely have enough time for chores and meals before it’s time to go to bed.
Energy
Even if we had the time, our precious energy was all spent working. We may want to explore our hobbies after work, but we’re too tired and end up sitting on the couch instead.
Responsibilities
The kids need clothes. The house needs painting. It seems like every time we get a sliver of peace, something else crops up that needs our attention.
The Real Reason
I’ve made those excuses too, but they’re not true, well at least they’re not the whole truth.
Yes, travel is expensive and would require a big block of time off. But I have the money and the leave – or I could put it on credit if I really wanted. People couldn’t come with me, but that’s never stopped me before.
The real reason I haven’t booked that trip to Japan is that I love my cat too much. He’s a senior cat, going on 17 years, and needs daily medication. I don’t trust others to take care of him the way I do. I wouldn’t feel good about leaving him for two weeks.
I’ve prioritized my cat over my desire to visit Japan.
Priorities
The real reason you’re putting things off for that idyllic someday that will never come is that you aren’t prioritizing them.
You don’t have money to travel because you’re spending too much money on random stuff you don’t need. You don’t have time for hobbies, but you’re spending hours a day doom-scrolling on social media.
You’re not truly focusing on what you want. You haven’t prioritized your someday goals.
It Might Be Okay
There’s nothing wrong with prioritizing one thing over another. Japan is on my someday list because my cat is more important to me. That’s okay.
I’ve thought about what I want and decided what I will prioritize.
If you’ve done the same, bravo! The harsh truth about life is that we can’t have everything we want, and sometimes we have to pick one thing over the other.
Maybe someday we can have the second-place thing, but we’d rather have the first, and if that means sacrificing something else, then so be it.
No Thought – Not Okay
It becomes problematic when you sacrifice everything you want because you never considered the possibilities.
You’re spending five bucks a day on coffee for a small energy boost. Sure, you like the coffee, but is it worth sacrificing something like a trip to Japan over? You’re driving an expensive car, and sure, it’s nice, but is it worth the higher payment when that money could go towards funding your dream?
If you’ve asked yourselves these questions and determined that yes, the coffee and nicer car are more important than anything else – stop worrying about it! Do you and enjoy yourself.
But if you’ve never asked yourself these crucial questions, it’s time to start. You might be sacrificing your someday for things that don’t matter.
Your Someday Can Come
You can have your someday.
To make it happen, write out a list of your biggest life goals. Next, prioritize them. Decide which ones matter most, and focus on achieving them.
Now, go back to your excuses. Find money. Find time. Offload the responsibilities that aren’t bringing you the life you desire.
You’ll have to make some really hard choices and difficult sacrifices. But if you really want your someday to happen, you can do it.
If you don’t want to make those sacrifices, maybe the life you have is the life you really want. Once you dove deep and realized what you had to give up, your someday didn’t sound as appealing.
There’s nothing wrong with that. Part of finding your path is understanding what truly matters to you, and if you already have it, you’re already living your someday.
Embrace it.