How to Ward Off Your “I Wish I Wouldas”

We in Madison have had a mild winter with roughly half the snow that dumped on us last year. But even though my back appreciates the limited amount of shoveling it had to endure, and even though the sub-zero days were few and far between, I still can’t wait for winter to be OVER.

A recent run of 40+ degree days has given me an incurable case of spring fever. I fully expect — demand! — the thermometer to continue to rise, even though I know there are probably a few more days of freezing temps and even some snow still ahead of us.

I’m already imagining the sleepy afternoons with Ben in my arms and the sweet-smelling spring breeze wisping through the open windows. I look forward to Saturday mornings spent strolling the famers market and listening to the jingly-jangly sounds of the street musicians. I can’t wait to visit the zoo, seeing it anew through Lucy’s more mature eyes. I yearn for our first chance head to the lake, where we can watch the ducks and dine on ice cream cones.

Amidst these dreams and visions comes the unspoken assumption that once the weather finally turns for good, my schedule will suddenly open up, my days will slow down, bills will cease their insistence of being paid, and the daily distractions of life will magically halt.

Ha!

In many ways, nice weather makes us more busy, not less. And you know as well as I do that when we’re busy, time flies. It doesn’t take much for our dreams and wishes to turn from “I really want to’s” to “I wish I would haves.”

So what do we do about this?

Regardless of where you live, I’m willing to be there are things you’re looking forward to doing three months from now that, for whatever reason, you can’t do right now. Here’s something to try: write those things down. Make a Top 10 list. What are the big and little things you’re looking forward to? Include the things you’ve always wanted to do but just never got around to. (Many people have never experienced the remarkable things in their own backyard that attract visitors from other places.) Then, post it on the fridge to serve as a reminder. Better yet, take some time right now to schedule as many of them on your calendar, which is not as packed right now as it will be in a few months. And after all, how many of the things you’ve ever written on your calendar never got done? Exactly.

Living a rich, regret-free life does not happen by accident. It requires intention, awareness, and sometimes, a little bit of planning.

[ Weather Girl. Acrylic and ink on newspaper. 10 x 7 inches. ]