Happy Sacred Sunday!
Seneca says, “We suffer more in our imagination than in reality.” But he also should have said, “We struggle more in reality than in our dreams.”
Imagination is indeed fascinating. When we worry, it exaggerates our pain and tragedies far beyond what we realistically endure. And yet, when dreaming, it skillfully removes all the struggles, inconveniences, and obstacles we’re likely to face.
Let me give you an example.
My friend, Cristy, has been traveling a lot these days. She hasn’t spent a single weekend at home in months.
She sat in my office the other day, staring at the Big Ass Calendar I have on my wall. This calendar, designed by Jesse Itzler, allows you to view your entire year at once. It comes with multi-colored post-it notes for marking days dedicated to pursuing dreams, spending time with family, embarking on adventures, starting new habits, and more.
Itzler’s theory is straightforward: if you don’t plan for the important things in life, they’ll likely never happen.
As Cristy observed the calendar, she mentioned how glad she was she didn’t have one.
“Seeing all my travel days at once would probably drive me insane,” she confessed.
“But you love traveling, don’t you?” I asked.
“I do,” she replied, pausing thoughtfully.
“I guess, in theory, I love the idea of seeing the world, experiencing new things, and going places with my family. But in practice — all the packing and unpacking, planning logistics for the kids, being away from my home and routine, and not sleeping in my bed — is exhausting. I can manage it, one day at a time. I can handle it day by day, but seeing a year’s worth of travel ‘post-it notes’ would likely overwhelm me.”
This conversation got me thinking about my life, and yours.
When we dream about our ideal future, we seldom consider the practicalities. (And that might be a good thing, because if we did, we might avoid it altogether and miss out on many amazing experiences!)
However, when we’re constantly longing for a different life, comparing ourselves to the highlight reels on social media, or worrying about our future problems, we miss out on enjoying the only real thing we have — the present moment.
It’s a valuable reminder that life is rarely as tragic or glamorous as our imaginations convince us it is.
Every real-life scenario comes with its challenges and inconveniences, as well as its joys and blessings.
So, rather than idealize a fantasy existence where everything is perfect, it’s more fruitful to learn to navigate the bumps and savor the magic along the way.
On this Sacred Sunday, my challenge to you is to be where your feet are planted. Despite the good and the bad, your life will be magical if you choose to make it so.
