Someday, we're going to take that trip.
Someday, I'll learn how to do that.
Someday, we'll have more time.
It's interesting how easily that one little word slips into our conversations. We say it with every intention of following through.
And then life happens.
Work gets busy. Someone needs something. The car needs repairs. An unexpected expense shows up. The calendar fills, and suddenly another week has passed.
Then another month. Sometimes another year.
And somehow, someday slips even further away.
Not because we've stopped wanting those things. And certainly not because they don't matter.
They just keep getting pushed behind everything that feels more immediate.
The Trouble With Someday
I don't think most of us intentionally put our lives on hold.
We're simply living them.
We have responsibilities, people we care about, commitments we've made, and bills that don't magically disappear because we'd rather be doing something else.
And sometimes waiting is absolutely the right decision.
Not every dream fits every season of life. Financial realities, health concerns, family responsibilities, and circumstances beyond our control all play a part.
But I wonder how often we postpone something not because we truly can't do it, but because we've become accustomed to thinking there's always going to be a better time.
When things settle down.
When we have a little more money.
When we're not quite so busy.
When everything finally falls into place.
Except life rarely works that way, does it?
One busy season gives way to another. One responsibility is handled, and something else takes its place.
And that perfect stretch of uninterrupted time we've been waiting for?
It has a funny way of never appearing.
What Are We Really Waiting For?
Sometimes the things we postpone aren't even particularly big.
Maybe there's a friend you've been meaning to call. Not a quick text to say you'll catch up soon, but an actual conversation.
Maybe there's a restaurant you've talked about trying, a place you've wanted to visit, or something you've been curious about learning.
Perhaps it's a hobby you used to love but somehow stopped making time for.
Or maybe it's something bigger. A dream you've quietly carried for years, occasionally bringing it out, thinking about what it might look like, and then carefully putting it away again.
I think there's something worth noticing in that.
Because sometimes we become so focused on taking care of the life in front of us that we forget to participate in the parts of it we're looking forward to.
We're not unhappy, necessarily.
We're not doing anything wrong.
We're just waiting.
And waiting can become so familiar that we stop recognizing it as a choice.
When Life Keeps Moving
There's something about looking back that can make time feel a little strange. An event you remember clearly turns out to have happened five years ago. The children who once needed you for everything are suddenly adults with lives of their own. A conversation that feels like it happened last month was actually several summers ago.
And you find yourself wondering, Where did the time go?
Of course, the time didn't disappear.
We lived it.
We worked. We cared for people. We solved problems. We celebrated milestones, handled difficult days, and did all the ordinary things that make up life.
And those things matter.
But I think it's possible to appreciate the life we've been living while also recognizing that there are parts of it we've been putting off.
Not with regret. Not with a sudden sense that we need to make up for lost time. Just with a little more awareness that the days ahead deserve our attention, too.
Maybe It Doesn't Have to Be All or Nothing
Here's where I think we sometimes get stuck.
We imagine the complete version of something we want, and if we can't make that happen, we decide to wait.
If we can't take the two-week vacation, we don't plan the weekend away.
If we can't commit to a full course, we don't explore the subject at all.
If we can't completely change our schedule, we assume there's no room for something new.
But what if the smaller version still counts?
What if a Saturday afternoon exploring somewhere nearby brings a little of the adventure you've been craving?
What if spending twenty minutes learning something new is enough to remind you how much you enjoy it?
What if calling that friend today matters more than waiting until you can arrange the perfect get-together?
I'm not suggesting that every dream can be reduced to a smaller version. Some things genuinely require time, resources, preparation, and patience.
And some things are worth waiting for.
But perhaps we can stop assuming that waiting means doing absolutely nothing in the meantime.
Maybe there's a way to begin experiencing a little of what we're looking forward to, even while the bigger plan is still taking shape.
This Week's Intentional Practice: Give Someday a Closer Look
This week, I'd love for you to think about something you've been saying you'll do someday.
It doesn't have to be a lifelong dream. It might be something small that keeps finding its way to the bottom of your list.
Ask yourself:
What have I been putting off that I genuinely want to experience?
Not something you think you should do. Something that actually matters to you.
What am I waiting for?
Is there a real obstacle that needs to be respected? Or have I been waiting for circumstances to become a little more convenient?
Is there a piece of it I could enjoy now?
Maybe there is. Maybe there isn't quite yet.
Either answer is okay.
The point isn't to add another obligation to your week. It's to remember that the things you look forward to deserve a place in your life, too. And if there's one small opportunity to bring something meaningful a little closer, perhaps this is the week to take it.
A Life We Don't Have to Keep Waiting For
I think one of the beautiful things about living intentionally is that it doesn't require us to have everything figured out.
We can have plans for the future and still enjoy where we are.
We can work toward something bigger while appreciating the smaller experiences available to us today.
We can be responsible, practical, and thoughtful without automatically placing everything we enjoy at the end of the line.
And maybe that's the part worth remembering.
We don't have to stop dreaming about someday.
There will always be places we want to go, things we hope to accomplish, and experiences we're looking forward to.
That's part of what makes life exciting.
But perhaps we can also ask ourselves whether some of those things deserve a little room in the life we're already living.
Because someday is a wonderful thing to look forward to.
It just shouldn't be the only place we allow ourselves to live.
Until next time…
Grant yourself a little grace.
Trust yourself a little more.
And take one intentional step.
Be well,
Mary-Anne
Continue the Conversation
What's something you've been saving for someday? And is there a small piece of it you could bring into your life a little sooner?
I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Intentional Calm — Bringing Calm to the Chaos™
Calm is not a luxury — it's a lifeline.
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