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Welcome to Day 14 of the IN AWE 21-Day Challenge! Today we spark inspiration, meaning and joy with JOYFUL AWAITING.
“Anticipation of pleasure is a pleasure in itself.“ – Sylvia Townsend Warner
CHALLENGE: We all need something to look forward to. By starting a countdown today, you’ll unleash the power of joyful awaiting… and that enthusiasm will only increase as the days tick down!
INSPIRATION: Here’s a little snippet from Chapter 12 of IN AWE:
Research shows we get more enjoyment out of something after we’ve had time to anticipate it. One such example was noted by George Loewenstein, a professor in economics and psychology at Carnegie Mellon University and director of the Center for Behavioral and Decision Research. He performed a study asking respondents: If they could receive a kiss from anyone they wanted, would they rather have the kiss today or three days from now?
Which would you choose? Well, the vast majority of respondents chose three days from now. They wanted something to be excited about. They understood the promise of joyful awaiting.
Anticipation, it turns out, is one of the things that make life so rewarding.
ACTION: Pick a date or event in the fall and begin a countdown. How many days remain until then? Joyful awaiting can be more encouraging when shared with someone in your inner circle, too!
My friends, today is your day! Live IN AWE.
John O’Leary
Did you know? The 21-Day IN AWE Challenge is inspired by John’s new book IN AWE. Order your copy + see all the fun behind the scenes at ReadInAwe.com.
25 replies on “In Awe 21-Day Challenge – Day 14”
I am looking forward on importing my Xmas Trees during this time and be able to bring joy to all the homes that will have a tree from my lot. Expecting them in Aruba on Nov 27.
I am looking forward to seeing my family in December, after all of this isolation. I have siblings, a niece, and nephews whom I only see all together once a year.
The joy of waiting! This has helped me to teach my children & grandchildren to enjoy the journey of getting there. When we plan a trip we mark off the days on a calendar, when we are saving to buy something we count our coins. As we get closer to the date or the amount needed for the purchase the joy becomes intense!! Even when a trip is cancelled like this year due to COVID we stared a new joy of waiting for this thing to be over!
Looking forward to WV Bow Season- October 10th
Joyful waiting – Waiting gives me patience and I am so looking forward to the day when I can enjoy being with my friends with no restrictions – no masks and no social distancing. To be able to give and receive a HUG will be wonderful!
I want to have a very special day at 15th of May.
It is our anniversary with my bf. I want to make a surprise for him. And waiting for results makes me feel shining.
I like imagining his smile and eyes when he see my surprise.
I’m looking forward to celebrating my 40th birthday in June! It’s going to be an adventure and a joyful celebration!!!
I am counting down to the Bluffton, SC Walk to End Alzheimer’s on October 31st! It coincides with Halloween this year, so it will be fun to see all the walkers in their best Halloween Purple costumes!! I am chairperson on the Team Retention committee, and we hope to have all of our past teams there again this year, but also to recruit some new teams as well. It will be a lot of work between now and then, but I truly am looking forward to it and joyfully awaiting the results. My mother has dementia and is in a facility in Ohio, while I cannot go to visit her, I have talked with her on the phone when she is able, and I walk to honor her every year! 166 days, and counting!
August 24th – our oldest of 4 kids heads off to University of Wisconsin to become a Badger. My heart will no doubt be broken, but also full of pride as I am so excited for her to head to College. We are grateful for this time together and will be in transition with the new family dynamics, but such is life. Next stage and letting go. The countdown is on.
Looking for a date in August that I hope we can get together with my family – my parents (mom 78 and dad 81), my sister and her family – we all have a summer celebration together to celebrate birthdays. My wife, my dad, my sister and my mother-in law and father-in law all in August. My daughter and mom in June. It’s something we always do whether it’s in two different visits or one big one. I am tearing up as I type this because of the stay-at home order. I miss seeing them so much and I generally can’t wait to hug my neighbors, friends, my students and my coworkers too. Whenever these “reunions” take place, they will be looked forward to with great anticipation for sure! 🙂
My dad turns 95 on August 21st! Looking forward to a big birthday party!
My son finishes his 3 year, 13 week contract with the Army mid December! He has just returned from a shortened deployment to Afghanistan and while he is back at his base in Upstate NY, I am here in Oregon and can’t go visit him. I may not know the specific date, but it should be within a few days of my birthday and it will be the best gift ever to have him back safe and sound!
I’m in Michigan and I’m joyfully awaiting for the Coronavirus to level off so that we can visit loved ones again. May 1st is the day. Seeing loved ones in person is so good for the heart and soul!! We’ve been in our homes since March 13. FaceTime and Zoom are ok but nothing beats a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek.
Only 178 days until our Hustle Up The Hill For The Homeless event (previously scheduled for May 31st but rescheduled due to COVID19). Thank you, my friend John, you have inspired me so much these past 2 weeks. I have shared your info. on the link for our Event page so I hope more can be inspired. Check it out if you want. https://www.facebook.com/HustleForHomeless/?modal=admin_todo_tour
I’m sure this won’t be a popular response as it never seems to get too many likes on Facebook and after all, isn’t that how we measure everything these days? ha! Here it goes… only 212 days left until Halloween!! There, I said it. The absolute best day of the year for me, as a kid, was always Halloween! I know, most would say, are you crazy?! What about Christmas? Don’t get me wrong, what kid doesn’t love Christmas? But, Halloween.. a day when you could be anyone you wanted, no matter how crazy and instead of judgement or discerning looks, the neighbors actually encouraged you, smiled at you and gave you candy!! Yep, for me, it’s Halloween.
Ha! Shawn I have your back on Halloween man – a great way to live like a kid for a night!
We’d like to send you a copy of IN AWE once it’s released in May. Please send an email over to brian@johnolearyinspires.com and include the best address to send to. Thanks!
I never thought of Halloween like that before. “a day when you could be anyone you wanted.” I love that! Thank you for your perspective.
Counting down to the release of the book so I can joyfully share all my pre-ordered books with friends and family.
Also, counting down to turning 50 on 5/13….not sure how I got to be fifty, just sort of snuck up on me but looking forward to turning the page on this decade and to see what the next half century holds.
I am joyfully awaiting the day we can gather together again, have a big party and celebrate the health of our community and our planet!!! It is going to be AMAZING!!!
In 9 weeks, it will be our last car payment!! Woohoo!
Joyful Awaiting
In exactly 126 days, is our hometown’s 15th annual trail run, at our local ski resort. My husband and I have been participating in this 10k, the last 6 years (I didn’t last year, because I had sprained my ankle. But, I volunteered to help.) So this year, I am looking forward on starting at 9200 feet and ascending to 11,819 feet. It’s a brutal trail run, but the accomplishment is so rewarding. Happy training for my husband and me.
Going sturgeon fishing this August. I am SO excited. This happens in 5 months and 1.5 days from now. I look forward to this August trip each year. It’s warm, the beer is cold and the company is second to none. The campground is empty and we’re always in the sturgeon! Cheers to another best day! #inawe
Joyfully Awaiting my 60th B~day, Nov 15! Planned a birthday trip after your challenge to have planned anticipation! Looking forward to it! Happy Happy Joy Joy
Going to New York in September to see our son, daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren.
Labor Day! Looking forward to a day off!!!