Something that I have thought about a bit lately is how do I better embrace and flourish in my temporary. Why? Well because everything is temporary right? Every career role, friendship, love connection… pretty much completely temporary. Not disposable, but definitely temporary.
Now I’ll accept that the degree of temporariness will certainly differ, but things are gonna come to an end at some point, and that’s not only OK, but it’s also something that should spur us into thriving, enjoying and truly living. Consciously not taking things for granted as we should always know they won’t always be there.
Case in point. For me, there are probably fewer things more satisfying that watching the sun go down with a beach fire burning away, preferably with line in the water, beer in hand. When striking that first spark on the tinder, I can enter that sad knowing it will not burn forever, or I can embrace the fact the fire is only for the night and thoroughly enjoy it while it lasts. I’m leaning hard to the latter.
The irony is that in my experience spending any thought on ‘whether it will last’ will often directly contribute to it not doing so. An unplanned and sometimes unconscious self-defeating of things. Not good, not needed. Avoid this.
The flip side is also true. Knowing that because things are so temporary, it really opens a freedom to maximise the exploration or experience without fear… the outcomes is already well known. Freeing and de-stressing of sorts.
The spectrum is obviously pretty vast here, from a completion of a short term contract role, the passing of a long term life partner, a special friendship that dissipates to a natural end. It’s OK to accept and acknowledge all the things that are dear to us are so very temporary.
Note to younger self / protégées / offspringers: Everything really is temporary, don’t spare a thought for that, but flourish and embrace knowing it… And when things come to an end, certainly mourn appropriately, but more importantly celebrate and cherish having been a part of it while you did!
Thoughts on a Thing 