The Pleasure of Anticipation
On the enjoyment of things that haven’t happened yet.
I have tickets for two concerts in Berlin next year. The Womack Sisters and Warhaus. Quite different musically, which makes me look forward to both even more.
And then there’s Thailand. No tickets, no dates, no actual plans. But the idea of going back has been on my mind lately.
I occasionally find myself looking at flights to Bangkok. Just looking, of course.
I like having things to look forward to. Some are already in the calendar, others are still possibilities. And I enjoy both.
The Fun of Looking Forward
There is a certain pleasure in the preparations. Listening to the music before a concert, deciding what to wear, thinking about where to have dinner afterwards.
With Thailand, it’s the food I think of first. The noodle soups, the street stalls, the fruit. The heat, too, although I know perfectly well that after a few days I’ll probably complain about it.
And, of course, spending time with my mother and seeing my relatives again. That’s an important part of going back.
And it doesn’t always have to be something big.
Dinner with a friend next week. A new book arriving in the post. A Sunday with absolutely nothing planned, which can be particularly appealing.
Sometimes I enjoy the planning almost as much as the occasion itself.
And Then There’s Reality
Naturally, things don’t always turn out as expected. The restaurant is fully booked, the weather is dreadful, or the concert isn’t quite what you imagined.
Then again, sometimes it’s better.
I don’t particularly mind. I can enjoy looking forward to something without expecting it to be perfect.
And there’s no need to make every enjoyable experience into a significant life event.
For now, I have two concerts to look forward to, a possible trip to Thailand and quite a few smaller pleasures in between.
Not a bad prospect.
Rooted in Depth. Radiating Light.
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