Don’t Wait for a Rainy Day

How often have you heard that something is being saved for a rainy day? How often have you purchased or planned something for a special occasion, and never actually got around to that plan? It fills everyday life with waiting for a special occasion. This implies that most days aren’t special, and that they aren’t worth much. My advice – don’t dull down your life by waiting around for a rainy day or special occasion.

One example that many people can relate to is the idea of a china cabinet at a relative’s house. This china cabinet is full of fancy dishes that never get used. Perhaps one holiday a year is deemed important enough for these fragile heirlooms to see the light of day. What’s the point of owning something that you don’t use? It just collects dust. At my family’s house, we started using the “fancy” china year-round about two years ago. At first, we would carefully navigate the kitchen cupboard to use other dishes, or very gingerly carry the china to the table. We use it all the time now, and sometimes it makes a regular meal seem a little more special.

Another example of something that almost never gets used is a sequined t-shirt I own. I got it about 2 years ago during some medical treatments for post-concussion syndrome. I had been in 24-hour pain for just under a year at that point. I distinctly remember thinking, “I’ll wear this when I’m happy enough.”

I guess I expected to get better within a few months and that I could wear the sparkly “pocket full of sunshine” shirt in celebration. That … didn’t happen. No medical treatment or medicine or physical therapy made a dent in my chronic pain. Eventually, I decided to wear the shirt because I liked it & it would brighten up my day. I was right. I still don’t wear that shirt very often, but at least it’s not sitting in my closet completely unused.

Have you been saving something for a special occasion or milestone? It’s great to set goals and celebrate achieving them, but make sure you aren’t just delaying celebrations to the point that they fizzle out. Make a normal day a special occasion with the things (and people!) in your life that you might not always make time for.

Especially during the past few months, people have been cooped up in their houses, waiting for normal life to resume. It is very easy to let days blend together. Without unique experiences to differentiate between regular days and holidays, without variety, existence can become pretty dull. Look for ways to build some variety into your routine, whether that is listening to new music, taking a different route when walking the dog, having a movie night, or trying new recipes.

Even though life might feel full of waiting for the next big event or achievement, there are still plenty of milestones along the way to recognize and celebrate. You can elevate an ordinary day by using the outfit/recipe/candle/decorations you’ve been saving for a special occasion. Don’t wait for a rainy day.