Photo credit Sandra Crook
When…
Sylvie sat at her desk, ignoring the quadratics that swirled across the books there. “When I grow up, I’ll never do Maths again,” she said to the man singing on her radio.
At college, she told her friends “When I leave here, I’m going to travel the world,”
“When I get married, I’ll put my feet up,” she said, elbows-deep in suds at the job she got afterwards.
Now she tries to calculate the bills, ignoring the sink full of dishes, staring at the calendar photo of a place she’s never been. “When the kids leave home,” she sighs.
Extroduction
There’s a path going up that hill in the photo, and it caught my eye because it looks really challenging. This last few months we’ve done a lot of just getting through, but I’m also aware that while the view from the top of that cliff is probably stunning, but it’s the climb that makes the experience memorable and worthwhile.
There are loads of songs that try to capture this sentiment, “The Climb” being one of the more famous. The link below is another. And as a mother, I’m used to being told to enjoy the moment, so I know how deeply upsetting that type of advice can be and how important hope is. That being said, I hope we can all learn to live in the moment, even when we don’t enjoy it. After all, tomorrow never comes.
elmowrites 
At least she’s never let go of her dreams
I agree, but I hope she can start enjoying herself too.
Well said, if we leave things til tomorrow, we never reach that point of self-satisfaction or fulfillment. Motivation to move forward is something that intrigues me. How each person deals with it or lack thereof. We are all on a journey, but some get stuck by the wayside.
Excellent writing!
Thank you so much, Forestwood. I think we have to find a way to enjoy the ride, but sometimes it’s easier to look at the destination, isn’t it?
I have climbed that hill, but can not do it now. So never put off till what should be done today. I feel for your character
Thanks Michael. I hope the view from the top wonderful, and that you enjoy looking back on at least most of the climb!
Ah, freedom from the domestic world; will it be too late?
That’s the worry, James. I think there’s a need to at least engage with the current moment.
So easy to fall into the habit of thinking there will always be the time later to do what is important to you today. And yes, I noticed that climb up the side of the cliff – not for me, now or in the future.
haha, I don’t think I’d enjoy the literal climb either, Sandra, but the metaphorical one certainly has its highlights!
This is bitter sweet, for a lot of times we promise ourselves tomorrow but it never comes.
Delayed gratification is good but hope deferred is just …
Thank you. Yes, there’s a balance to be struck for sure
Good piece, you must never let go of your dreams, as tomorrow never comes but it also never knows, so let every day be an adventure, or at least involve an element of excitement
It also never dies, I believe! 😉
Well told, the story of many lives of postponed ambitions. At least some make it to the top of that path.
And then where do they go?!
Life loses its purpose without hopes and goals.
Indeed, and then you’re left wondering how you got there.
We all need to hold on to our dreams, nicely done 🙂
Thanks Poet!
I’d like to think that one day her dreams will come true!
I’d like to think so too, although she may want to find a way to enjoy the time before that too.
Dear Jen,
When…it does zip by. I love your take on the prompt, because it’s not about what you’re looking at…wonderfully written slice of lice.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks, yes the metaphorical was strong in this one, whereas the next is much more literal. At least, on one level.
And when the kids do leave home, one misses them like crazy 😛
I’m sure! and something else might come down the pipe to kibosh the next set of dreams.
Deep story with a wise extroduction.
Thanks Ms J, I’m still trying to find the balance.
You’re welcome.
i guess, such is life, something always gets in the way. 🙂
Yep, which is why we can’t live for the future.
One “hope” I held onto was that when my fourth (and last) child started her first day of kindergarten, I was going to take the longest, hottest bath I could. And I did. It was lovely. Sometimes, we just set our sites a little higher than is reasonable.
YES! I wanted to get a job when my youngest started school. Didn’t happen, but I did come back to Friday Fiction, so I’ll take that win!
Excellent. Very philosophical. 🙂
Thanks Bill