In my weekly posts, I always write a couple things I’m looking forward to. Anticipation is actually something I track daily. A few years ago, I read an article about how social scientists have found that anticipation increases well being and ever since I’ve tried to find something to look forward to every day, from big things to small things. (It’s not this article, but same ideas)
I thought for NaBloPoWriMo, I’d write my gratitude list on Saturday, when I look back at the week, and then on Sunday I’d look forward.
Things I’m currently looking forward to:
-Tech rehearsals. Actually being at the other end of tech. I’m going to be honest – there are stage managers that LOVE tech – those rehearsals where we move onstage and start incorporating scenic, lighting, costume, wig elements into a show that hitherto we have been rehearsing in a room on lines of tape. I don’t know if I’m one of those stage managers. I find tech extremely stressful. There is a lot to keep track of. There is never enough time or money. Sometimes what we do in the room don’t always match with the realities of what we can do onstage, no matter how much we try to anticipate it all. On top of that, it’s hard to “life” when in tech – I eat crappy food, don’t get to read or exercise, or see my family. Not to mention the Husband is solo parenting through all this, and driving all the kids to all the things. It’s rough. But, I do love seeing things onstage, solving problems, driving the ship, hearing the orchestra and singers come together, collaborating with directors and designers. So yeah – I’m looking forward to tech and the opera we’ll create together onstage. I’m also looking forward to the day off before final dress rehearsal.
-Running along the Potomac. To give myself one “life” thing to look forward to during tech – I’m going to try really really really hard to fit at least one run in on my dinner break. I love running along the Potomac – watching the sun set over buildings, over Roosevelt Island. Monuments in the background. Seeing the crew teams rowing down the river. Other runners. There’s a lot of see, even as I try to clear my mind.
-Chocolate chip cookies. The cafeteria at the theatre has the BEST chocolate chip cookies. They are the size of my face and have the just right degree of squishy slightly underbaked quality in the middle. Of course, they are often sold out by dinner time, so even thought I almost always bring my food, I always go to the cafeteria to get myself a chocolate chip cookie (or two). Some days, it’s the best part of my day.
-A Year with Frog and Toad, the musical. We went to see this show at the local professional children’s theatre last year and it was delightful. The kids still sing parts of it. (Sometimes when I ask the 7 year old to take something to another room for me, he’ll grab the thing and run off singing “I’m a snail with the mail and I’ll deliver without fail!”) The high school is doing it for their fall musical and we’re going to go see it. A night at the theatre!
– Visiting a friend in January. I had a friend that was supposed to visit this week, but didn’t end up being able to come to town. So we’ve make plans to plan a visit in January.
-reading everyone’s posts this month for NaBloPoWriMo. Thirty people have signed up for the challenge! I’m looking forward to “meeting” more bloggy friends.
What are you looking forward to?
I’m writing this post as part of NaBloPoMo – click on the icon below to see who else if participating. You can also leave me questions for an upcoming “Ask me Anything” post via this link. Happy reading and writing everyone!
Oh, I’m dreaming of your run along the Potomac, how beautiful! I love DC, and that will be such a picturesque way to clear your mind.
Looking format to something can be so powerful. What a great practice to do that regularly. Good reminder.
I would look forward to chocolate chip cookies – specially since I am off sugar right now. Ha.
Also your running route sounds calming and relaxing. I would walk it though.
I read a similar study once too, and really agree. It’s one reason I like to plan things for “next month” or later rather than do it directly, because then I have a whole month to look forward to “the thing”, like travel or outing or going to the theater. 🙂
How cool to be working with opera and dance, it sounds very intense but interesting to be sure.
Happy NaBloPoMo to you!
Happy NaBloPoMo! Thanks for visiting my blog!
I try to also put things on my calendar for after my shows open too, just for this reason. If I get sad that I can’t see something because I’m in rehearsal, I try to look into my calendar and find time for it later.
Anticipation! Yes, such a powerful tool for a positive mindset. I use anticipation quite often but haven’t thought of it as a practice for well-being. Thanks so much for the reminder.
I love that you can run along the Potomac! As a fellow runner, I can relate to the calming nature of running by the river. Oh, and chocolate chip cookies the size of your fave have to be something to look forward to – what a nice treat.
I am looking forward to things calming down a bit (the last few weeks were quite stressful, but who am I kidding… we’re entering the holiday season so it won’t really calm down any time soon) and making plans to visit my family for Christmas 🙂
I feel like after Hallowe’en, it’s an increasing downhill slope to Christmas. Things do not let up. Maybe that’s why the New Year needs to be a quieter time for me
I always love planning and looking forward to our next vacation. Currently I am looking forward to visiting our friends for Thanksgiving.
I love running on the Potomac! My uncle lives in Springfield VA and we used to go and visit DC quite often, but I really had fun when I went there for the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler and had a few extra days to just walk/run around town (without doing anything touristy)!
We also saw Frog and Toad and thought it was so delightful. I would go again in a heart beat. My youngest will sing “we went south for the winter, south for the winter” – it kind of amazes me that he remembers the song/words. It’s a brief part but it stuck with him. Those birds were such a great part of the show. My oldest will also sing the snail with the mail song, too.
You live in a gorgeous area for running! I did not get any running in during my trip to Quantico to see my sister but someday I will run along the Potomac. I am in DC next week for work and will stay in Arlington. I need to see if there is a good running path I could use, but it needs to be during daylight and I am not sure how my schedule will shake out for that trip.
I’m looking forward to the holiday season. We’ll celebrate Thanksgiving with my family and then will do an early bday celebration for my youngest who turns 4 the following day. And then we’ve got lots of excitement in December. Theater-wise, we’ll go to The Grinch at the Children’s Theater, which is an annual tradition for us. I hope they remain interested in it for years upon years to come. They do such an amazing job w/ the production!
Tech week sounds both really fun/invigorating and totally overwhelming/stressful. Good luck!
I’m looking for the election being OVER (and thus all the ads/texts/emails) and just knowing what’s to come over the next 4 years. Continuing with NaBloPoMo! My birthday and Thanksgiving at the end of the month. And a cruise in December!
I love having things to look forward to! Anticipation is a big part of happiness for me. You have a nice list! I’m looking forward to Thanksgiving and having my son home… and also some fun events in January where I get to travel a little. I also have little things I’m looking forward to during the week, like a high school football game on Thursday. I like to have long term and short term anticipation!
I think half of the fun of things is in the anticipation. We ran along the Potomac when we visited and I agree, it’s such a lovely place to run. Lots of variety and things to look at. I’m looking forward to dinner with my parents and siblings at one of our regional destination dining restaurants this Saturday.