I can’t be the only one this happens to: I’ll have something–an event–to look forward to and I’m so enthusiastic about it that I can’t wait. I look forward to this one thing so much that I’ll begin to imagine what it’ll be like. How much fun it will be. And then the day comes when it’s actually going to happen…
And I don’t feel like going.
I’ve been thinking about what this phenomenon must be caused by, and the only thing I can come up with is that I’m afraid whatever it is won’t measure up to my expectations. That I’ve built the event up so much in my mind that nothing can possibly match it. And the longer I wait for it, the more I don’t want to do it, because I’ve had so long to envision what it’s going to be like that I’ve basically already done it in my head.
Enthusiasm is such a fickle thing, isn’t it? It’s like when I get an idea for a story in my head that I just HAVE to get down on paper. It’s gonna be great! But if I don’t get to writing it almost immediately, it becomes, ehh, whatever.
There should be an opposite for enthusiasm. You’re either enthused or unenthused… but unenthusiastic isn’t quite the right word, in my mind. Disenthusiastic, on the other hand, comes closer. Un-, to me, means I never was. Dis-, to me, means I was and then I wasn’t.
Do you ever write a word so many times that it stops making sense anymore? Or just doesn’t look right. I’m getting that now…
This late entry is part of SoCS, which in this case stands for Stream of Consciousness Sunday. Feel free to use it occasionally. You can find the rules here: https://lindaghill.com/2015/08/07/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-august-815/
Happy Sunday, all.
P.S. Don’t forget the new badge contest! You can find it here: https://lindaghill.com/2015/08/06/get-out-your-crayons-kids-its-time-for-the-2nd-annual-socs-badge-contest/ Let’s have some enthusiasm! Go, artists and photographers, Go!
August 10, 2015 at 2:05 am
I get you!! I love making plans and have chirpy talks about the event. But once the D-Day rolls around, I am secretly hoping someone cancels and then it all gets cancelled and I get to stay in bed. Sometimes the journey is more fun that the destination.
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August 9, 2015 at 3:09 pm
“Dethused,” maybe?
You reminded me of a line from a Peanuts cartoon: The anticipation exceeded the actual event.
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August 9, 2015 at 9:37 pm
Why does “dethused” sound like it should have a bomb attached to it? hehe
Charles M. Schultz was a wise man. 🙂
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August 9, 2015 at 12:31 pm
I thought I was the only one who experienced this “disenthusiasm!” Yes, I think it is all about the build up and unrealistic expectations. I wonder how we can be happy without being so overly excited we gear ourselves up for a let down? I think it’s experience that gives us that pre-event disappointment. We know we’ve been disappointed in the past and don’t want that again. We also know that the good thing we are going to experience won’t last and there is some sadness in that.
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August 9, 2015 at 9:35 pm
Oh so true – nothing lasts forever. And sometimes the anticipation is really the best part anyway, even if the event is as wonderful as expected, just because the build-up lasts longer. Thanks for the thought provoking comment, Quixie. 🙂
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August 13, 2015 at 11:18 am
You are very welcome!
By the way, I am very excited to see who wins the SoCS badge. I thought they were all good but I voted for my favorite one. 🙂
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August 13, 2015 at 11:21 am
It’s a close race so far – can’t wait either. 🙂 Thanks for voting!
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August 9, 2015 at 9:25 am
I think the opposite of enthused may be apathy sometimes. I too often don’t want yo hi to an outing at the lady minute. I find when its planned too much ahead I tend to be disappointed.
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August 9, 2015 at 9:31 pm
Yep, apathy is a better opposite. I agree. Thinking about it now, I think it’s why I try not to get too excited about things. And all this time I thought I was just getting older – it’s wisdom, damnit! 😀
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August 9, 2015 at 9:34 pm
You the wise lady!!!
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August 9, 2015 at 9:35 pm
I must be! Haha!
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August 9, 2015 at 9:23 am
I see I’m not alone! I like to stay home and be comfortable and will go to a party only because I HAVE TO socialize. Then I sit there thinking, “I wish I was at home.”
Yesterday I was trying to find the opposite of enthused…… unenthused isn’t a strong enough word. Flaccid? “lacking vigor or force” is the #2 definition in the dictionary.
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August 9, 2015 at 9:28 pm
You’re not alone – and neither am I! 🙂
I know, right? “Unenthused” sounds so… bored. 😛 hehe
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August 9, 2015 at 8:43 am
This happens to me all the time! Especially for evening events in winter – I hate being cold (and am probably a bit anti-social).
I remember doing the repeat a word thing when I was at school and laughing hysterically at how silly the word ‘the’ sounds after you’ve said it twenty times. Such fun.
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August 9, 2015 at 9:26 pm
Ugh, I hate planning anything when I know I’m going to have to go out in the cold. It’s even worse than the heat, and that can be pretty brutal too.
*tries saying “the” a bunch of times* … I ended up blowing a raspberry. 😛 hehehe
Thanks for the laugh! 😀
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August 9, 2015 at 7:35 am
Maybe a good test for a writing idea is to let it sit for a day or so. If, after that, you still feel enthusiastic, then it’s worth investing your time pursuing.
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August 9, 2015 at 9:24 pm
Thing is, I’ve written some of my best stuff when I first think it up. If I let it sit, it’ll end up being crappy no matter how good an idea it was in the first place. Gotta catch that enthusiasm! Do you let your ideas sit when you write your blogs? I’m curious.
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August 9, 2015 at 11:54 pm
Not so much my posts. But for books, yes. I’ve had plenty of ideas for books, but it’s a big commitment to write one. So those ideas I let sit. And it’s only happened a few times where my enthusiasm grew enough to drive me into writing a book. Alas, if only potential readers would have shared my enthusiasm and bought my books. 😛
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August 9, 2015 at 6:57 am
Oh yes Linda, many times have I had to endure this phenomenon. It’s extremely frustrating to say the least. Disenthusiastic is the way to go 🙂
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August 9, 2015 at 9:22 pm
Extremely frustrating indeed. Especially when you know it’s inevitable. 😛 Thanks for dropping by, Tim. 🙂
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August 9, 2015 at 1:45 am
I always build things up on my head then I am not sure when it comes to the crunch! I think it is a protection mechanism. As for words yes analyse them too much and they become gobble de goop!!
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August 9, 2015 at 9:21 pm
Yes, that’s exactly what I think it is – self-protection. 🙂 And gobble de goop is a perfect way to put it. You’re on a roll today, Willow! 🙂
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August 10, 2015 at 4:22 am
Thanks 🙂 your bowling along yourself too!
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August 9, 2015 at 1:26 am
To me “un-“means involved but against or not, whereas “dis-” means no personal emotional involvement. So, in court you would want a dis-interested judge and not an un-interested judge. 😀
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August 9, 2015 at 9:19 pm
But would a disenthused judge be better than an unenthused one? I don’t think so. 😉
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August 9, 2015 at 1:25 am
I actually find myself doing this a lot, and sometimes with little occurrences. I guess that’s a curse of being creative, always having to imagine how something might be rather than waiting to see how it will all turn out. Too bad we don’t have an off switch for these kinds of things, right?
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August 9, 2015 at 9:18 pm
Haha! A switch would be nice, wouldn’t it? 😛 I think it’s getting harder and harder to wait too, with the way we’re so used to having instantaneous gratification on the internet. Thanks for your comment, Jorda. 🙂
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August 9, 2015 at 9:46 pm
So true. The Internet is making us all a little too impatient. No problem! : )
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August 9, 2015 at 1:21 am
Ok, on the one hand I’m sorry you have those deflated feeling when the “big event” finally arrives, but I’m also thrilled that I’m not the only one this happens too! I guess it’s natural, just part of being human to always have some negative emotion to counter the good.
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August 9, 2015 at 9:16 pm
I’m glad not to be alone as well, Tricia. 🙂 In a way, keeping up the negative is what keeps us balanced, right? 😛
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August 9, 2015 at 9:30 pm
Right!
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August 9, 2015 at 9:31 pm
😀
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