Before I say anything, I should note this is 1) a self-diagnosis and 2) not a real “disease”. However, at times, it can be an all-consuming, seemingly incurable, inescapable mindset.
We know we love one thing, place, job, and/or lifestyle; we work hard to achieve a balance and revel in the normality of day to day life. But , we want this life to count, to know that we took advantage of every open door.
There are so many options! So many things to see!
So many other places to be…
GIAG: Grass is always Greener {on the other side}
{aka FOMO:Fear of Missing Out}
While walking home from the Tuesday night lululemon run a few weeks ago, I realized how routine it felt (ignoring the fact that we recently switched the day of the run). “This is normal, and normal feels pretty good.”
Each week I go to work from Monday-Friday, a luxury I haven’t had consistently for the past two years (by choice, sure). I grocery shop with D, read the Express just so I can skip to the puzzles, make plans with friends, go to the lululemon group run and see familiar faces, join Kate at our usual running spot, hopefully fit in a yoga class at my favorite studios and come home to the same apartment (another luxury that once wasn’t).
Life is calm, no Jack has popped out of the box lately and everything feels consistent. On one hand, we revel in this, taking genuine notice of it all the time. We’re thankful, relaxed, and going through the motions.
On the other hand, I see travel specials to Paris and resist every urge to click “Purchase NOW!”. I see pictures of a sunny day in Seattle, a hike in the Rockies, or a beach day on the California coast and think “What if….”. I read everything that shouts a message of seizing opportunities, expressing priorities and making the most out of this one life that we’re graciously given.
What if these years aren’t enough to see and do everything we want? What if one city, one adventure, one sport, one decision is “better” than the alternative? How will we ever know and do all of the things our minds want to grasp, experience and share?
These thoughts run through my head quickly, repetitively and to a point where an anxiety decides to set up camp because man, we’ve got decisions to make, like, yesterday!
GIAG syndrome overwhelmingly takes over and tells me there’s too much to {try to} experience in one lifetime to stay put! It tells me to keep moving, keep seeing, keep testing and keep hoping. It doesn’t tell me that things, as they are, can be just fine.
Luckily, I read this little gem the other day, courtesy of the brilliant Tiny Buddha – a collection of writers frequently post and rarely disappoint. I usually skim Google Reader for titles that jump out at the flavor-feeling of the moment, and this past week? I needed to hear this:
You see, the problem with having choices is that we become restless. We can’t settle on what we already have or be satisfied with what we’ve got because we’ll always be wondering about the next big thing.
…..Mindfulness helps you to appreciate life as it happens. It stops us from agonizing over what might’ve been or what could be. It just brings us back to the present.
Because happiness isn’t about where you live or the things you do. It isn’t about being on an impossible mission to do everything, see everywhere, and accomplish everything you ever dreamed.
Happiness is a state of mind.
Happiness is: knowing I have a job that fulfills, challenges and encourages me every day; I’m in a relationship with my best friend, someone I know would take any adventure with me at any time; I have the means to travel, see my family, fill my fridge and buy that cute dress when I just can’t resist.
Happiness is not only embracing my GIAG & FOMO, because they push me to do something different, exciting and new whenever the door is slightly ajar, but also knowing when to rein them in because this routine is a good one.
What’s your happiness right now?
Any fellow GIAG & FOMO embracers? Welcome to the club, we meet in the web space regularly, searching for adventure, pinning, writing, wishing and planning.
