Waiting to Enjoy
Are you postponing pleasure?
November 2006

In 1996 I had a job with Icon Office Solutions in Portland, OR.  My boss and I had a great rapport and as a going away gift he gave me a Rex Hill 1993 Reserve Pinot Noir.  I was so touched that I deemed it a “special bottle” of wine for a special occasion.  And so in moving across the country a couple more time, packing unpacking, schlepping my possessions around for 10 years, somehow this bottle has come with me.  (Not knowing of course that not all wines improve with age.)  And with the years, it became assigned to a more and more special occasion, like engagement.

Recently I was reaching into my cabinet where this precious bottle was gently resting on its side and was aghast when I noticed that it had actually leaked!  After further inspection I could see that somehow, the seal had not held, wine had seeped out and now was no longer this prized wine, but a ten year old bottle of grape juice gone bad.

In a blend of laughter and tears I had to notice the irony.  So precious, I’d postponed my pleasure for some event that I thought was worthy of the wine.  And I’d missed the pleasure for waiting.

Where are you waiting?  How are you postponing drinking of the fine wine of life?

Claiming Joy Now
We all know someone who’s experienced an unexpected, dramatic change, be it disease, accident, or loss.  Suddenly this person had to fully reevaluate life, passions, priorities, time, energy, how to love, relationships…the BIG overhaul.  If they had only known, they’d have done, said or been so much more.  They wouldn’t have waited so long!  If I knew the wine would blow a gasket, I definitely would have indulged in it and fully enjoyed every last drop.

The thing is, we can’t know.

We must claim the pleasure, the joy, the love, life, now.

Choose to get out that favorite suit or dress now simply because it would be fun, rather than waiting for that special black tie event that might come along.  On the flip side, toss that crazy “skinny” dress you’ve been holding on to for years, the one that taunts you when you think how happy you’ll be one day when you can wear it.  Geez!  Get happy now.  Go get a hot dress that fits you now.  Stop waiting!

No More Waiting
We really must stop waiting--to take a vacation, to “catch up on work” before we allow ourselves to relax, to tell someone we love them, to take the art class, to invite bliss, to risk playing big in our business.  Stop waiting for the certain person, big event, or thing to happen, before you start enjoying your life.  There is no magic pill, perfect person, perfect opportunity.  Happiness is not conditional.  It is a choice.  At some point you need to decide and say, “I am choosing.  I choose happiness.  I choose pleasure.  Now.”

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