I wish, I want

7/15/2013

Who do you want to be? What qualities to want foster that you don't currently have.

" It's never too late to become the person you wish you were."

I stumbled across this quote. and it has stuck to me like glue. Or perhaps a parasite from Mars. (This is more apt consider the things I write.) Never mind that I've heard this same idea phrased differently a thousand times. It's the substitution of "wish you were" instead of "want to be."

Want

verb (used with object)
1. to feel a need or a desire for; wish for: to want one's dinner; always wanting something new.
2. to wish, need, crave, demand, or desire (often followed by an infinitive): I want to see you. She wants to be notified.
3. to be without or be deficient in: to want judgment; to want knowledge.
4. to fall short by (a specified amount): The sum collected wants but a few dollars of the desired amount.
5. to require or need: The house wants painting.

verb (used without object)
6. to feel inclined; wish; like (often followed by to ): We can stay home if you want.
7. to be deficient by the absence of some part or thing, or to feel or have a need (sometimes followed by for ): He did not want for abilities.
8. to have need (usually followed by for ): If you want for anything, let him know.
9. to be in a state of destitution, need, or poverty: She would never allow her parents to want.
10. to be lacking or absent, as a part or thing necessary to completeness: All that wants is his signature.

Wish

verb (used with object)
1. to want; desire; long for (usually followed by an infinitive or a clause): I wish to travel. I wish that it were morning.
2. to desire (a person or thing) to be (as specified): to wish the problem settled.
3. to entertain wishes, favorably or otherwise, for: to wish someone well; to wish someone ill.
4. to bid, as in greeting or leave-taking: to wish someone a good morning.
5. to request or charge: I wish him to come.

verb (used without object)
6. to desire; long; yearn (often followed by for ): Mother says I may go if I wish. I wished for a book.
7. to make a wish: She wished more than she worked.

Oops

I thought the definitions would clarify the difference between these two words.

Oh well (insert shrug.)

These words are different. Well to me at least. Want feels solid. As in "I want a hamburger." (I do. No, really. The photo explains why I can't have one.)

Wish is less concrete. As in "I wish I could turn into a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.."

This does not necessarily mean I want to turn into a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, only that I think it would be cool if I could. Unless I got stuck that way and something horrible happened like getting eaten or I sprouting mold. That would be really uncool.

Love yourself toughly

Me 3.0 would be more social, less of a worry wort, less "mehaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!", make better choices and most of all eat healthier and exercise. If I got thinner, great. If not it doesn't matter because those last two things will impact how I approach the world. When I'm good to myself I feel better, my thoughts are clearer (exercise has that funky side affect, who knew?) and I worry less (about stuff other than drowning. I've been swimming a lot.)

I heard someone once say something about loving yourself enough to eat well. This also struck a never though I didn't understand why until I sat down to write this.

Suddenly I see it's a lot like tough love... you know like when you kick the kids out of the house so they can grow up. (To be clear I don't have any kids.) Tough love for yourself is having the strength to turn down wants so that wishes can come true.