As I have been dog-sitting the happiest dog on the planet, I learned something about joy.
Tail-wagging bundle of joy!
Shadow wags her tail in anticipation of a belly rub, ear scratch, walk, or dinner. Sometimes I just look at her and she begins to wag her tail in anticipation of the upcoming hand-fur contact! Her tail wags faster as I approach, pounding out an accelerando on the floor. As soon as I reach her and give her the belly rub, her tail stops wagging and she leans back in enjoyment of the simple pleasure.
If her desire were met immediately every time, would it be less full because she missed out on the time of anticipation?
When I ride roller coasters, I wait in line with a good deal of anticipation, plus a dose of trepidation. The ride itself is short and exhilaration, but without the buildup of tension, the ride might lose some of its excitement. Granted, sometimes the waiting is so long it loses its potency. If Shadow doesn’t get her long-awaited dog treat, she slowly loses interest.
Disappointed
A certain amount of joy is present in the waiting and anticipation. Too often we rush through a time of waiting with impatience rather than enjoying the excitement of it all. Maybe we should be more like Shadow, joyful in anticipation of what is in store.
