The art of anticipation

In July I wrote about ’anticipation of something which may have a surprising result, an opening that could lead to something magnificent’.

And now, in September, another connected random thought has recurred.

Dear reader, I’d like to go more deeply into the word ’anticipation’; it has always fascinated me. This is generally thought to mean ’look forward to’. But do we?

Of course, different people may anticipate September as the initiation of cold weather: bracing winds, log fires or freezing conditions. Individually, some may shiver and others delight in anticipation of the cold weather to come. Equally, in September, we may bask in the season of ’mists and fruitfulness’, or, at least, the ’fruitfulness’. Who doesn’t like apples, raw, or, in their myriad forms of cooking? Or, it may be the sight of the glorious golds and reds of the coloured September trees. Some children ’look forward’ to going back to school, others, poor things, don’t!

In August, last month’s anticipation of birthdays ran high in our family, birthdays on the 6, 7, 13 and 25 . Was the anticipated result what the person hoped for? The rational among us would say that it is better and safer not to anticipate the result, so as not to be disappointed. Rather a gloomy way of looking at birthdays, or anything else, I think! Luckily for me, my birthday on the 25 was just as wonderful as I anticipated!

Another example in my own case may illustrate the argument I’m trying to make. I studied twice with the Open University – six years for two degrees – thinking how splendid it would be to put the letter BA Hons after my name. But was it? I’ve never used the letters, even with the ’Hons’ (Honours) achieved. I discovered that it was the studying that I enjoyed and not the result. In other words, it’s the journey that counts and not the destination!