Someday, you will look back fondly on these days.
That thought just hit me this morning.
I was going through my mental rolodex of all the things I have to do, deadlines, pressures, unsolved problems, and promises. I was annoyed at the weather, annoyed at things around my house and property I have to repair, annoyed at a lot of the inescapable elements of this phase of life.
Staring out the window processing my tasks for the day I fixated on a small tree whose branches changed to stunning red in the last week or so. It was beautiful. I heard my kids through the door bickering and chattering.
Then the thought hit me out of nowhere.
Someday, you will look back fondly on these days.
And it’s true. I know it’s true because I look back fondly on the other phases in life I’ve completed, even though in the midst I was usually focused only on what needed doing and improving.
I don’t think it’s a bad pattern. Discontentment and a drive to do and accomplish is inherent in humans. As long as it’s paired with optimism, it can be good.
But taking a minute to recognize that I will likely look back fondly someday on this phase – the ages of my kids, the place I live and work, the early chaotic stage of the company – suddenly made me feel a lot happier and more relaxed.