At school this year, Big Girl played something called the Chase Game in P.E. I think this is the way it went… One kid would get a head-start and begin running around the gym and then a few moments later, the next kid would take off and chase the first kid, and try to tag him/her. My girl loved this game. I think the fact that she is fast, and often won, had something to do with her enthusiasm for the game.
As she described the game to me after she first played it, I immediately thought of the fact that some kids wouldn’t win, and that everyone would be sitting there, watching. It made me a bit anxious to envision this sport, this conspicuous introduction to the reality of winning and losing in life. But, ultimately, I concluded that this is a good game for the kids. In large part because I think there is something exciting and existentially important about chasing.
I think a life spent chasing is a good life. I think it is good to have things up ahead of us that we want to get to, and grab. I think it is good for us to keep our sneakers fast on the floor of life, to give it our uncompromising all. I also think it is good for us to win, and to lose. Even while others are watching. Because others are always watching, aren’t they?
Who knew a preschool game could trigger such deep(ish) thoughts. Guess that’s the way I roll.
What are you chasing? A child? A dream? A man? A woman? A sense of passion? A sense of peace? A sense of security? Do you think a life of chasing is a good life or does it sound pretty sweet to stand still and chill?
We continue to chase because it feels so great when we catch what we are chasing, whatever that might be. I think it goes back to evolutionary drive of mankind. Whether a hunter or a gatherer, we are still in the pursuit of something of value and when accomplished it provides us with a sense of value through association. Catching that degree, catching that spouse, catching that home, catching those children, catching those friends….some people are better chasers (Sounds like Big Girl has a passion for chasing and that will serve her well in future endeavors!) while others are more okay to sit back and let life find them. Me, I am a chaser, always looking for the next goal to chase.
Read this and nodded and nodded. Yes, it is about pursuits, about progress, about setting goals, looking ahead. There is of course something appealing about relaxing from time to time, about savoring those precious things that we have already “caught,” but I think life is most meaningful and interesting when we are reaching for things. So good to know that I am not alone in my desire to keep chasing! Thanks, Amanda.
I completely agree. Though there is a danger to the “I’ll be happy when…” mindset, I think having something to chase is both a great motivator and a great guidepost. It allows us to envision and strive for a life we don’t yet have. It gives us time to explore our goals so that when we come to crossroads and decision points we know which way we want to go. And it adds meaning and context to the things we’re doing today.
I could not agree more. I think it is plain sad to get to a point where we stop wanting new experiences and stop looking ahead. I guess this is all about the idea that there are always improvements we can make personally, professionally, experientially, existentially. Thanks, Gale. xxo
The chase is fun but I am a big proponent of trying to enjoy the journey too. Some of my favorite moments come from reflecting upon the different events and experiences that stem from it.
But isn’t the chase part of the journey, perhaps another word for the journey? I guess I am just saying that the experience of traveling somewhere and going for something is meaningful in and of itself regardless of the ultimate somewhere and something. Does that make any sense? Thanks, Jack.
I can agree with that.
Maybe I’m tired today but a life spent chasing just sounds exhausting to me! I need times of chasing but constantly chasing would be too draining for me. Right now I’m definitely in a smell the roses kind of mode!
So funny reading this because as I write these words – at 5:35pm – when I am so wiped from my day, I hear you, Jess. There is indeed something beyond appealing about relaxing, and smelling those roses
I think perhaps that the best life is one that is spent alternately chasing and chilling. Then again, who am I to theorize on the essence of “the best life”? xoxo
It’s been 2 years since I graduated from college, and I am still unemployed. If only, I would have went for my Master’s I would be finished by now, OR if only, I went for a Teacher’s cerification I would be working by now. If I knew then, what I know now, I would have done just that. Yes, I do believe a life spend chasing, (chasing after your goals) is a good thing, only thing is we also have to stay focus and ignore any obstacles that come our way. Of course, it’s a lot easier said then done.
Easier said than done indeed. I think it’s just important to have aims, to foster goals for ourselves, no matter who we are or how old we are or how confused we are. I think that there is a strong connection between the feeling of growth and the feeling of happiness (pretty sure that Gretchen Rubin wrote about this…) and I think it is important to feel that we are evolving. Thanks, Monica.
There’s a great quote that says, ” when you get to the top of the mountain, keep climbing.” Chasing is a good thing if we chase the right things for the right reasons.