Oh, Yeats - Day 20

"Happiness us neither virtue nor pleasure nor this thing or that, but simply growth. We are happy when we are growing."

William Butler Yeats

My focus on lists and goals sometimes makes me feel like I must be a little crazy. How could somebody who has it all together possibly need this much direction and self-disicpline? How could somebody be healthy and unsatisfied at the same time?

I think I agree with Billy up there. It actually give me pleasure to hope, list, work, learn, and dream.

Don't get me wrong, meeting a goal is elating. But, that feeling passes pretty quickly as I adapt to whatever new thing is accomplished and begin to take it for granted again. Between you and I, frequently, that elation is eclipsed by debilitating panic. What if I can't keep it up? What then?

The feeling of making progress, however, is unbeatable. Maybe you notice subtle changes that make you decide to do even better things and suddenly your day has snowballed in the best possible way. Everyday has new boxes to tic, new ways to sweat, new things to tell, and great foods to eat. Why would I ever want to stop that?

I would much rather be trying than finished.