RiverBender Blog: The Art of Looking Forward

Around this point in the dreary winter season, it’s time to start searching for things to look forward to.

I know I’m not alone in this one. It’s cloudy, it’s rainy, it’s cold. We got a nice reprieve from the winter weather last week, which I was loving. But as we sink back into the typical wintry/early spring gray, it’s a good opportunity to seek out some positives.

My friends and I play this game where we almost always have something planned. We joke that we need something to look forward to at all times, another reason to keep slogging through the day-to-day so we can get closer to the exciting thing coming our way.

Usually, we’re holding on for a concert or a party. We choose a date far in the future and book it. By the time that day rolls around, we have something else planned for another few months out, another event to look forward to.

I highly recommend this strategy. It’s easy to get lost in the dreariness of winter. We need a reminder that spring is coming soon, and there’s no better way than to think far ahead. Additionally, thinking far ahead allows us to save up the money we need to make these things happen, which is always a plus.

Now, I do see the flaws in this logic. For one, it’s easy to forget to enjoy your everyday life when you’re so focused on what’s coming next. Living for the future is fair enough, but we can’t forget to honor where we’re at, too.

To counter this, my friends and I supplement our bigger plans with little day-to-day hangouts and experiences. We talk on the phone for hours. We go for walks, even on cold days. We grab dinner together and stay late at the restaurant, chatting about nothing.

There are big benefits to doing these littler things, to making sure we get out of the house and see people we care about. These are the things I look forward to every day. They make the slog of the winter a little easier, a little warmer.

But I don’t think there’s any harm in having bigger plans scheduled when possible, too. Especially when the weight of the world is bearing down, it’s nice to remember that there’s something fun coming down the road.

Sometimes, these plans don’t even have to come to fruition. My friends and I are guilty of planning big trips and then not actually going on them. More than once, I’ve researched flights to Iceland or routes to the Grand Canyon, only for those plans to fall through (or be truly just a pipe dream in the first place).

These experiences are still fun, still a good reminder that the world is bigger than whatever is weighing on us today and there are fun things to be done in the future.

But the best part is when these plans come true.

I have big hopes for 2026. I am hopeful that some of these plans will pan out and turn into a truly unforgettable year for us. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

But even the little day-to-day treats are enough to get us through the end of this winter and propel us into spring. And treats — whether that’s splurging on an iced coffee or setting aside an hour for an outside walk with a buddy — can mean different things to different people. Whatever gets you out of bed, I highly recommend just doing it. Enjoy it.

Life is hard enough, and winter can get heavy. Find the little joys, and let’s welcome in the light.

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