Marlow's Musings 5/11/25
Insights, adventures and fun stuff from this week.
We often rush toward destinations, fixated on outcomes while missing the powerful energy that lives in anticipation itself. This can leave us perpetually achievement-focused, unable to find meaning in the journey that unfolds before us.
Since the language we use shapes how we experience our lives, understanding words that illuminate the beauty of anticipation becomes transformative. That's why exploring Vorfreude is so essential.
Instead of merely chasing accomplishments, I invite you to discover how embracing joyful anticipation can create a life where the journey itself resonates with purpose and vibrant expectation.
I'm reminded how motherhood embodies the beauty of anticipation—from awaiting a child's arrival to celebrating each milestone with joyful expectation. As Mother's Day is celebrated in the US today, it feels like the perfect moment to explore this concept.
One personal side-note: This was originally written as we were waiting for the arrival of our youngest grandson. Revisiting this word afforded an opportunity to relive the anticipation and joy of that time before his arrival. We now know his name, but back then, he had a 'code name' as I explain in the article.
Words of Purpose come alive when spoken, and I encourage you to listen to the audio narration. Now, let's explore another Language of Purpose...
“Happiness lies in the imagination, not the act.
Pleasure is found first in anticipation, later in memory.”
Julian Barnes
Audio narration by David Marlow
Definition.
Vorfreude: (n)
vor·freu·de /ˈfɔːrˌfroiːdə/
1: The joyful anticipation of a future moment, a feeling that fuels purposeful excitement.
I have a fondness for discovering words that enrich our language and offer profound meanings. Among these treasures is "Vorfreude," a German term that encapsulates the exhilarating sensation of eagerly awaiting a future moment with a sense of purposeful excitement.
Risk
The absence of Vorfreude leaves us susceptible to a life without the spark of anticipation, devoid of the vibrant energy that comes from eagerly looking forward to something meaningful.
When we fail to embrace this idea, we risk being drawn into a cycle of mundane routine, disconnected from the thrill of anticipation that drives us toward purpose.
We find ourselves simply going through the motions, missing out on the profound joy that arises from looking forward to all the potential our future holds.
Opportunity🌀
A world of possibility unfolds before us as we embrace the Vorfreude, inviting us to experience life in a whole new light. Anticipation breathes vibrancy into our days, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Picture waking up each day excited, knowing that the hours ahead hold moments of significance and potential. By eagerly anticipating what's to come, we infuse even common tasks with delight, elevating the quality of our experiences.
Our relationships deepen, and connections thrive as we share the beauty of looking forward to what lies ahead.
Incorporating this mindset requires only a willingness to embrace the present moment with the hope of what's to come.
So, imagine walking a path illuminated by anticipation guiding you toward a life bursting with meaningful moments, purposeful connections, and a journey unfolding with excitement.
Story
As I write this, I’m experiencing a special moment of anticipation. My new grandson is due any day now.
A number of rituals are a part of the arrival of my grandchildren.
One, they get a star on the family mailbox.
There are ritual processes about all of this. For this baby, a boy code-named Rambo, we began making the star with the other grandchildren a while back. The original stars are no longer available, so I have to refashion them from some others.
Lots of sanding and painting go into making them just right. Rambo is not his name, of course. My daughter and son-in-law also like to drive up the fun and anticipation by keeping the name secret until after their babies are born.
Once Rambo is here, we will have a ceremony placing the star on the mailbox.
Another anticipation ritual is picking out the exact right classic teddy bear. Not just any teddy bear will do. We checked out over 50 before deciding on one. Each one gets a special name and story written by me and a photo to go along with the meaning of the name.
I haven’t named this one yet. Rambo’s nursery theme is outdoors, so I was thinking something along the lines of Huntley. Not quite sure.
Then, for Rambo’s first Christmas, we will gather as a family and read the Christmas Story from a compilation of the Gospels. Something we do each year, and as the kids get older, they ‘help’ me read it.
‘E’ is the only one who reads so far, so the ‘help’ is limited, if you know what I mean.
All of these rituals add to the vorfreude or anticipation and fun of waiting for the baby to arrive.
Application.
Embracing the Spirit of Vorfreude
Let's explore practical ways to integrate this spirit into our lives and Ikigai journeys:
🌱 Savor the Little Joys: Carve out a moment each day to anticipate something simple yet delightful – it could be that first sip of morning coffee, a heartfelt conversation with a friend, or a peaceful moment in nature. By anticipating these small joys, you infuse your daily routine with a touch of enchantment.
🌱 Celebrate Milestones: Shift your focus from the destination to the journey itself. Celebrate every milestone, regardless of how small, as a testament to your progress. By anticipating and honoring these markers of achievement, you infuse each step with significance and motivation.
🌱 Create Rituals: Establish rituals that kindle your sense of anticipation. Whether it's a weekly treat you look forward to or a special weekend activity, these routines provide a structured space for joyful anticipation, enhancing both your present and future.
One of my favorite rituals is my morning coffee. I make a ritual of selecting the beans, grinding them, and then watching as the espresso fills my rocket cup.
With anticipation at full power, I savor that first long sip of bitter goodness. Find something you do like that in your own life and amp it up to a fun ritual.
🌀Reflection.
Here are three questions to encourage you to incorporate anticipation and excitement into your day.
What's a simple, everyday moment you can infuse with anticipation to make it more joyful and meaningful?
Reflect on a recent milestone or achievement. How did the anticipation of reaching that milestone impact your journey and overall sense of fulfillment?
Consider a creative or leisure activity that brings you joy. How might you enhance your anticipation for this activity, making it a source of purposeful excitement?
🌀 Remember: No matter what has come before, today is a fresh start. 🌱
Let’s make things a little bit better. 🌱
Quest well
Being pregnant was the most delightful anticipation ever. I remember I was subscribed to this page that would send me an email everyday telling me what was happening inside, what the baby was doing, what new parts of his little body were developing. I enjoyed every one of those 9 months. Well, at the end I was very ready for him to come out! Hahaha 😂 I couldn’t sit, lay in bed, or stand. I couldn’t barely breathe or go up the stairs. I’m a small person in size and my son was 9 lbs when he was born. My belly looked as if I had swollen a beach ball! 😂
I love all those traditions in your family every time a baby comes!
It’s funny but when I started reading your article about anticipation, the first thing that came to mind was the aroma of the coffee while it’s being prepared.
I hope you will very much enjoy this day with your family! ❤️
"Susceptible to a life without the spark of anticipation, devoid of the vibrant energy that comes from eagerly looking forward to something meaningful."
That's really powerful, David.
I often say that I believe empathy exists in the imagination. We cannot have experienced the same circumstance this other person has, and even if we did everyone responds with different emotions and feels them uniquely. We have to activate our curiosity and Imagination even just to be able to relate at all in any compassionate way.
Viewing events in a similar way can have a profound effect in our mindset. What we notice as abundance, and what things we can persist in being grateful for. This creates the real estate where we allow our mind to reside, more there than somewhere else. The spaces in between leave room for growth.