Choose long-term aspirations over instant gratification
And sitting with the discomfort of your decision
Hello there, friends! I am so happy you stopped by today. After a cold, rainy spell with a bit of snow thrown in for good measure, this rainbow appeared last week. A hopeful sign. Wherever you are, I wish for you the joy of rainbows and the beauty of spring!
I made a choice today that was a difficult one for me. It was a small choice, but making the decision that was right for my long-term aspirations over the one that would provide immediate gratification was, I knew, just the thing I needed to do. Despite the uncomfortable feeling that I would miss out on an adventure.
But that’s the thing, isn’t it? Sometimes we have to be ok with the discomfort. Allow ourselves to sit with it instead of trying to assuage it. Often, the unease opens a space within us, providing a greater understanding of what we want, who we are, and what is important in our lives.
This weekend, the island is alive with the promise of spring. The temperatures are perfection for this time of year, a balm to soothe the winter-haggard spirit. The rufous hummingbirds are back, zipping around with their metallic music as they light on the feeder hanging from the front porch. I am grateful to see their tiny orange bodies and shimmering necks, but equally grateful that these bold creatures haven’t scared the Anna’s hummingbirds away, as they don’t seem ready to head for the hills — or mountains — just yet. Other bird songs fill the air, with spring migrations well underway. Right now, there isn’t a cloud in the sky and only the gentlest of breezes sway the leaves and branches on the trees and create soft ripples on the water.
After a week to acclimate to daylight savings time, my body’s rhythms are at last settling into a change of pace and the shift in sleeping patterns this adjustment to our clocks demands every March. The world is opening up again. Though Mt. Baker is still adorned in solid white, Mt. Rainier is dressed in pinstripes, where the sun’s warmth has melted some of the volcano’s winter snows. Soon enough, I’ll be able to traipse through mountain meadows full of wildflowers, bees, the fresh scent of new growth.
Knowing that I can’t yet reach those mountain meadows didn’t stop me from wanting a weekend adventure. I itch to get away, to see something new or revisit a favorite trail at higher elevations. I long to breath in the fresh air and scintillating smells, hear the sound of my soul (and soles) as my feet mark the time and measure the distance from the everyday to the magnificence of nature’s embrace.
Yesterday, I hiked the bluff trail in Fort Flagler, stopping at every overlook, turning my face to the sun whenever I emerged from the canopied path. Yet, it wasn’t quite enough. So, I booked a ferry for Whidbey and investigated trails in one of the state parks, thinking I could satisfy more of the desires for newness and nature that seeped into my being this weekend.
But by the end of the day, another voice whispered, the one that speaks of the wholeness of the life I desire and what I hope it will look like a year from now. And while spending time out in nature, hiking and visiting new places is a large part of it, the instant gratification of getting away for the day wouldn’t put me any closer to the bigger picture.
So, I decided to stay put.
And spend my day engaged in tasks that do move me closer to the vision I have, one that, in the end, would allow me to spend more time adventuring on new trails and to new places. But, for today, I can take joy in basking in the sun on my porch as the boat traffic sails by, with my cat vying for my attention (and sometimes my lap) from his little kitty tent. And though I wrestled a bit with the discomfort of setting aside a day’s adventure on the first weekend that spring truly made her appearance, I think this is a mighty fine alternative. I’ll still get my time on a trail when I take a break to stretch my legs and shake off the midday mental cobwebs, but it'll be a familiar one close to home. I’ll also get the satisfaction that comes from persevering toward a goal, even in the face of myriad possible distractions.
Choosing long-term desires and aspirations might require us to enforce our will over our impulses, but in the end, I think it helps us build new habits that keep us happier and healthier, that allow us to develop a clearer vision of our dreams and the path to achieving them.
What are your dreams worth? Are you willing to pay the immediate costs for the long-term benefits? I struggle to keep my impulsive nature in check when the outdoors and adventure beckons, but I’m learning — I’m getting there — and to me, the end goal is worth the price.
Peace,
Desserae
Thank you for being here my friends, fellow humans, seekers, and adventurers. Our lives are a story we write as we live, and I’m grateful to each of you for joining me as I create mine and share a slice of it here in this space. If these words resonate, I’d love to hear about it in the comments. Please feel free to share this post in whatever way feels right for you.
Excellent post with important reminders about prioritizing what means the most as we push toward our dreams. Also, your descriptive details about sights and life in general are some of my favorite parts of your posts. On point!
Whidbey missed you, but there's always another day! No need to bring a car. From the ferry there's Fort Casey and some new trails on the Prairie.