I have been given many good fortunes in my life but few compare to the blessing of my in-laws. Jason and I are constantly acknowledging how blessed we are by the excellent role models we have in both of our parents. I got an email from my father-in-law the other day, who just happens to be one of the wisest people I know. He has identified a condition that often accompanies Adultitis, which he called FTERA (Failure To Enjoy Recent Accomplishments).
Do you have this condition?
Who doesn’t, right? It’s what happens when we do not take the time to “delight in the little things” and “maintain perspective.” Society tells us that we are not content. We need more. We need the next new thing in order to be happy. This causes us to constantly be in a state of conflict and worry. When do we ever get to enjoy the successes of today? I know in business as soon as you launch what you’ve been working on, you take a quick breath, then almost instantly feel like someone if out there doing what you just tried to do better. This problem comes up often in families as well. As soon as junior has made it through the soccer season, there is restlessness and discontent until the next thing is happening. You finally get that raise at work that you’ve been stressing over and the next day you move onto the next problem to worry about.
My father-in-law has outlined some ideas for a cure to this condition.
Come to the realization that you can’t handle everything out there. There is just too much of everything. So get that straight in your head first. Society is telling us what we want and we don’t realize that if only we looked inside we would find what we really want.
Visualize going to a great buffet. It all looks good and if we eat everything, even though it looks good, we would burst. Pick and choose what you really, really like and enjoy it! Pattern your life that way. Pick what you like, do it the best you can, enjoy what you accomplish. You know, take a deep breath and just enjoy it for Christ’s sake and then move onto the next thing.
Life is overwhelming. As soon as we think we are in control we are in trouble. Delight in the joys of today for we don’t know how many tomorrows we will have.
Your father-in-law is a wise man :)
Walt does have some great insight into life.