On wanting more
I'm sure more than one person in the world (obviously none of you!) thinks that an almost 28 year old posting a Christmas/birthday list is pretty ridiculous. I mean, shouldn't I be growing up sometime soon?
I state the above hypothetically, but one of you yourselves told me so much last year (listen, I'm as surprised as you, but really this friend wasn't being mean, their honesty and cynicism is amusing!) . And then I went and posted another list this year. And if everything goes according to plan, I'll post another one next year, and the year after that and so on until I die at the ripe old age of 116 and 1 month.
Let's ignore the fact that I've been making either mental or real lists of what I want for my birthday/Christmas every year for practically my entire life, and let's ignore the fact that I like traditions like these that are both fun and also demonstrate how I or we change over time.
Let's also ignore the fact that there are real people in my life who would like to get me a birthday or Christmas present (yes, the number may be small) and who appreciate having a list of things that I want to choose from.
Let's ignore those facts, because those are obvious, sentimental and practical reasons for posting a Christmas list every year.
I think making a Christmas list every year is important because it helps preserve a childlike wonder about about the world. And I really do believe that. Posting a Christmas list keeps you young. And what could be more important?
Every one of you should* make a wish list list. Even if you don't put real things on your list. Even if the things you do put on there aren't practical. Do you think I expect the people in my life to buy me a Kindle, a new Camera, a Drobo, another camera (GoPro Hero), and a few thousand dollars worth of clothes? No, I don't expect that to happen.
The thing you have to understand about that list is that each and every single one of the things on that list is an opportunity. And seeing the world as full of opportunities is a good thing. Never being satisfied with the status quo is a good thing. There are no dead ends in life, there is always more, always something else to be striving for.
Making a wish list is also a humbling thing. Am I going to get everything I want? No. Should I get everything I want? No. There are limits to what we can experience in life, and in this way, not getting things on our list is just as important. It helps crystalize what's important in life. If you don't get something, and it is important to you, then how hard are you willing to work for that something?
So, to summarize, I hope I keep wanting more till the day I die. I hope I never keep striving to be better, to do better, to have better, to know better, to think better. To see more, heck, see everything, to do more, heck, do everything.
And having a Christmas list is just one small part of that. I'm not done with life, it isn't all figured out, there is so much more to come!
[As a real quick aside, while I love making my list and getting presents (who doesn't?), Christmas is equally fun because you get to give presents. I love remembering that thing that the person themselves forgot they wanted and getting to give that to them. Or I love getting someone that thing that they never would have gotten themselves, it wasn't practical or cheap or some other excuse. Christmas is the time to spoil the people we love. It really is one of the happ–happiest days of the year. Christmas day just has this mood. When is it ever quite so apparent how much you love and are grateful for your family? The only other time might be at the Three Houses Mountain trip, but then only the Three Houses have that tradition. Everyone can have Christmas!]
* Except I don't think anyone should do anything, I actually hate that word. Don't tell me what to do!
9 November 2011 07:37am UTC • 129 views • 4 comments
Tagged with wishlist, christmas, want, life
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4 comments
Robert
12 November 2011 05:10am UTC
That wasn't me that told you that last year, was it?
Dread Pirate Benjamin
12 November 2011 07:35am UTC
Nope! It wasn't! Did you think it?!
Dread Pirate Benjamin
13 November 2011 07:35am UTC
In Robert's defense, he wasn't the first person to ask me if I was talking about them... Apparently everyone thinks my lists are a little silly. :)
Also, this was my 1,000th post on TSP.
Sailing Master Keri
13 November 2011 04:09pm UTC
I love your lists, and I don't think they're silly at all!
Wow, your 1,000th post?? That's amazing!! Congrats! :)