What are you looking forward to?

[Helpaladyoutplease]

I just read an online article that said psychiatrists are noticing that people are finding it harder to find things they are looking forward to in their lives, all as part of feeling rather depressed about the present. Got me thinking what I was looking forward to and i just sat with a blank list in front of me for 10 minutes! Sounds very 'woe is me' and i have a lovely family but it made me a bit worried that i fell into the category of not being able to find some thing they are looking forward to! I'm 42 and my life definitely feels rather stagnant. In a very overwhelming teaching job, 2 kids, house that I'd like to extend but can't afford to. So inspire me (or make me jealous!), what did you do or are doing that is making you feel excited about life and your future?

Today I filled out my wall calendar for the next month.

Luckily, I have lots of good things to look forward to this month including;

I planted some bulbs in the winter in the garden. There are 4 flowers so far & I am waiting to see the rest appear.

Some paid work

Some friends that are not local have confirmed that they will visit for a day & we will go out for a meal together

My birthday & I have suggested a day out

A hobby/project that I have been working on for 7 months should be completed this month & will be celebrated to a wider audience

Another simpler hobby project should be completed this month

End of the month, I will be going on holiday with a group of friends, this has been planned for 2 years

Looking forward to longer, lighter evenings & sunshine

Hoping for peace in the world

Lots of things.

My forthcoming holiday
Seeing my dd as she comes back from University
Lunch with ex-colleagues next week
My choir concert
A new little baby due in the next 3 weeks, in extended family
Meal out with family for MiL's birthday next month
Getting my haircut tomorrow, as it is a mess
The Summer / warmer / sunnier months coming
Visiting my Godson soon and seeing his toddler, who is very funny and gorgeous at the moment

Completing cancer treatment, going on holiday, returning to work after long term sick leave, visiting friends and family after months in hospital, having hair again after intensive chemotherapy, planning adventures with DH.

I've had to deal with a life threatening illness so I'll be appreciating every moment ahead of me.

You're all so right. I need to find the joy in the smaller things (not that all of your moments are small). Maybe i need to start by writing down everything no matter how small. I have a haircut booked next week too and a choir concert! @PatsFishTank best of luck finishing the cancer treatment x

@Helpaladyoutplease I think you're right to try and find joy in small things and that's what I've been trying to do.

I read an interview with Chris Hoy recently who has terminal cancer and he mentioned not needing an ambitious bucket list but, instead, enjoying little moments like the first coffee of the day or the sun on his face and that's how I feel.

Outdoor painting the bluebells when they pop up (this month sometime for sure)

I am looking forward to having next week off work, then I'll be looking forward to the kids going back to school 😆

Looking forward to (or hoping for!) better weather and the chance to get outside more - we have so much on offer where we are but it's all so much nicer in good weather.

We have a few holidays this year - including our first family holiday abroad - and DC2 finishes primary so there's lots to look forward to there (as well as feeling quite sad about leaving primary but I try to frame it as positively as possible! They have a themepark trip, a residential and loads of social stuff before they leave so that's very exciting!)

I tend to always be able to find something to look forward to, even if it's just going to bed with my book at the end of the day.

I'm by no means a naturally sunny or positive person but I'm incredibly easily pleased and value the small things.

(I realise holiday's aren't a small thing. It's a massive thing for us as it's the first time we've ever all been away. I've not been abroad since 2014!! But on the whole I value the small and simple things!!)

I have a needle felting class tonight. Never done it before! Tomorrow I have a salsa class which is great fun. Longer term I’ve several crafting workshops to do, semi retirement in a few weeks time, new very part time job to go to and I’ve just applied to be a volunteer at a local arts center. New friends to make!
Then there is the lovely warmer weather to look forward to as well.

I'm almost 40 and DH is 57. DS is 3.5 in June we're going on our first ever holiday abroad. Not just the first as a family, I mean first time ever for all of us. Going to Crete for 2 weeks and I'm honestly so bloody impatient. I just want to hurry up and get there. I know for most on here a holiday abroad is normal but any holiday is exciting for us as we both haven't really been on many in the UK either

I have some big things to look forward to.. but I have little things I look forward to every week. That is a certain mumsnet poster who starts a thread every Saturday and Sunday that I really enjoy and I look forward to.

I'm looking forward to planting out my vegetable seedlings and eating my crops!
I'm going to travel to see my stepdaughter next week
We're going to the theatre in 3 weeks
I'm going to see my youngest daughter and grandson in 5 weeks, they are coming to stay
It's my eldest child's birthday in June and I will be doing birthday lunch (and cake) for the family
I'm going on holiday in 10 weeks
I'm hoping to see youngest daughter and grandson again in August, for her birthday, and I will do birthday lunch (and cake) for the family
I'm hoping to see stepdaughter again in October
2 grandchildren have birthdays in October and we will be invited to birthday tea
It's my birthday in November, DH will do birthday lunch and make me a cake and the family will come
We're taking the family to the pantomime in December
I'm going to a performance of 'The Messiah ' at the cathedral in December
Christmas!

So many things to look forward to!

OP I have identical circumstances to you in terms of job, age and number of kids. I’ve had a tough year and at times I’ve really struggled but I still feel I have lots to look forwards to:

the Easter holidays
a family wedding
two different theatre performances I have booked
going to watch my football team who are doing really well
may half term and summer hols
a trip to a cottage with friends
want to plan a couple of trips with other friends
parkrun

I'm 60, a single mum.
Ds will take a'levels and go to uni later this year, and my mortgage will be paid off in June. I'll have succeeded in paying for ds' school fees and for my house.

So financial pressures will disappear. I'm exhausted so I'm looking forward to that.

And with ds away, I can rebuild my social life without causing him any issues. I'm looking forward to that too. 😊

Smaller things.....warmer weather, summer clothes. I've been wearing winter clothes for five months.
Fresh figs and tomatoes from the garden. Replacing the rotten back door and the last two single glazed windows.
A bee keeping course in May, a charity 10k and Race for Life. Summer birthdays. All the things that make up my summer.😎

Seeing DP tomorrow. 😊

All the exercise I’m going to do this weekend. 💪

Coachella next weekend. 🥳

Haven’t thought beyond that, as part of trying to live in the present.

Going back to work on Tuesday, believe it or not! Have recently taken my dream job. Also looking forward to not stressing about a set of exams I have just passed