Something To Look Forward To

Most shrinks, counselors, ministers, witch doctors and whatever other professionals that deal with the human mind know that what you look forward to is critical to being a healthy and happy being. People, and maybe some animals, need to have happy expectations. I mentioned animals with especially dogs in mind. They await their master’s return with great dedication and express joy when they see him or her. Too bad that humans don’t express such joy as a dogs do when they see a loved one. I guess it wouldn’t look right for a human to wag their tail.

I don’t know about you but I looked forward to quitting time on every job I had but one. If that job had paid enough money, I would still be there. But there are millions of things people look forward to. Some people have many and others have only one or two. Being the armchair psychiatrist that I am, I can assure you that when you see someone murder a group of school children or some equally horrid crime, that person had absolutely nothing to look forward to.

We hear about so many people with depression and the consequences. What those people need is something to look forward to. Even a simple thing can mean a lot. Allow me to illustrate my point with an another story.

A college class on human biology involved a discussion on human sexuality. The professor asked the class, "How often do you have sex? All those that have sex 5 times per week, raise your hands." A few in the class raised their hands. "How many have sex twice per week?" Several raised their hands. Then, he asked, "How about once per week?" Again, the hands went up. The professor continued with once every other week, once a month, every now and then? He had noticed a man in the back that had not responded to any of the times mentioned, but the man had a huge smile on his face. So the prof asked, "How about once per year?" The man’s hand shot up. "Excuse me sir," the professor said, "But I couldn’t help but notice that during all this time, you’ve had this huge smile. And, now you state that you have sex only once per year. I am curious as to why you are smiling so much." The man never stops smiling as he replied, "Tonight is the night."

Get something to look forward to. You’ll be happier.

PMO
©2013