I was thinking recently about how much of our lives we spend waiting for a special occasion.
We save the good dishes.
We keep the expensive candle sitting on the shelf because it’s “too nice to burn.”
We buy an outfit we love but wait for somewhere special to wear it.
We talk about the restaurant we want to try, the place we want to visit, or the friend we’ve been meaning to call.
We say things like, “We should do that sometime.”
But how often does “sometime” actually happen?
I think many of us are guilty of waiting for the perfect time to enjoy our lives. We wait for the weekend. We wait for vacation. We wait until work slows down. We wait until we have more money, more time, more energy, or fewer responsibilities.
But the truth is, most of our lives aren’t made up of big, special occasions.
They’re made up of regular Tuesdays.
Quiet mornings.
Dinner at home.
A walk after work.
A conversation with someone we love.
The ordinary days are where most of our lives actually happen.
And maybe we’ve been underestimating them.
What if we stopped waiting for a reason to enjoy the things we love?
Burn the candle.
Use the good dishes.
Wear the outfit.
Open the bottle you’ve been saving.
Take the scenic route home.
Plan the day trip.
Call the friend.
Sit outside with your morning coffee instead of rushing into the next thing on your list.
None of these things are huge. They probably won’t change your life.
But maybe that’s the point.
Sometimes we become so focused on creating a great life someday that we forget to enjoy the life that’s happening right now.
I know how easy it is to think, “I’ll have more fun when things calm down.”
But when does life ever really calm down?
There will always be another responsibility. Another worry. Another project. Another reason to put something off.
So maybe we need to stop waiting for special occasions and start creating more special moments in our ordinary days.
This week, I have a challenge for you.
Think of one thing you’ve been saving for “someday.”
Something you’ve been waiting to use.
Somewhere you’ve been meaning to go.
The trip you’ve been dreaming about. Just start researching how to make it happen.
Someone you’ve been wanting to call.
Something fun you keep saying you’ll do when you have more time.
And do it.
Don’t wait for the perfect day.
Don’t wait until everything on your to-do list is finished.
Don’t wait for someone else to make the plan.
Because an ordinary Monday is part of your life, too.
And maybe today is special enough.