One may not realize it, but life is all about having something to look forward to. However minute or extravagant an event may be, that feeling of excitement, anticipation, and expectation can encompass many aspects of a person’s mental and emotional well-being, putting him/her into a mindset that can be quite euphoric.

As a child, time goes by very quickly because he/she looks forward to the end of the day, when they can play with friends, attend clubs, talk on the phone. Being a child is exciting because the world is new to them. They may or may not look forward to the first day of school, but may enjoy going through the rituals and expectations of graduation, from elementary to high school. Time really flies when most people count the days to the weekend; then the weeks to the first holiday; the months until Christmas and a spanking new year. Anticipations can be very exhilarating. 

Having something to look forward to is also about hope. As long as there is hope, anything is possible and this mindset can get a person through hard times or a depressing period. Even if it is looking forward to being able to get out of bed, to a time when a person becomes pain-free, or seeing that special person once again; hope can be that pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.

Goals are also based on having something to look forward to. They have to do with aspirations, hard work, attaining a diploma, becoming successful. Goals are the rites of passage which everyone goes through in their journey through life. Life phases include finding your significant other, getting married, having a family, becoming parents, grandparents, retirees. These are the special celebrations in life that give it meaning and certainly are grand occasions to look forward to.

Having something to look forward to is also about dreaming. As long as you have dreams, you will always have something to look forward to. As long as you dream, anything is possible, especially in a country like America. You don’t have to look any further than the beautiful homes, the wonderful cars, big screen TVs, high-tech gadgets that most people have. Even people who are on welfare can own a cell phone and a television. That’s the American Dream, and there is always something to look forward to, even a female president.

Best things to look forward to are probably little, every day happenings. If you count your blessings and are thankful for all that you have, you will always have something to look forward to, each and every day. As a retiree, this author looks forward to her first cup of coffee; she anticipates the smell when getting up. If you happen to live in the country, you can look forward to seeing sunrises/sunsets, birds, full moons, starry nights, and a community of animals that occasionally visit you.

If you live in the city, you can look forward to the entertainment available to you, visit various bars/restaurants, enjoy nightfall/city lights, saying hi to a neighbor, etc. Having something to look forward to every day is akin to positive thinking and fostering happy thoughts. This may be a very good way of focusing on what is right in your life, instead of concentrating on what is not.