Can any of us ever recall a time when we weren't waiting for something? A time which we were pleasantly enjoying without contemplating the future and all it would bring? A time when we were not reassuring ourselves that we didn't need to be happy right now; that some far-off joy was waiting for us and would come in time? And what happened when that much-awaited time came? Did we achieve what we promised ourselves? Did reaching a certain date and time bestow upon us all the cheerfulness we'd convinced ourselves we'd get?
Something I've recently realised is that Man is always setting aside feelings for the future. For example, you've been studying for your finals for a month now, and this Friday you will finally be liberated from the shackles of the education system (at least for a couple of months). You are continuously counting down till Friday, almost obsessively willing the days to pass so you can reach that happiness and contentment which you've set aside for yourself, which you believe you'll attain come Friday. And when Friday does come, what happens? Did all the happiness you'd been storing for the entirety of that dreaded month come raining down on you? Were you caught in the flood of excitement and pure, unadulterated joy that you thought you'd find?
The truth is, sometimes we set high expectations for an event that might not carry all the significance we believe it does. Sometimes we forget about the present and promise ourselves that all our misery will be worth it when everything we'd ever dreamed of comes pouring in. But why? Why do we do that to ourselves? Why do we not acknowledge our right to live out our dreams at any time? Why do we keep setting things, from accomplishments to sentiments, aside for tomorrow? How do we even know that tomorrow will come? And how do we know that it will carry with it all that we so foolishly thrust upon it?
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