Essential elements and timing: getting everything in phase

The post about wanting and getting was inspired by a comment by the science fiction writer Fred Pohl. He said that although he usually sooner or later got what he wanted, by the time he got it he sometimes didn't want it any more!

The two essential elements of wanting and getting were sometimes out of phase in his life.

Fred Pohl's words have reminded me of something that Louisa May Alcott wrote in her journal in 1874:

“When I had the youth I had no money; now I have the money I have no time; and when I get the time, if I ever do, I shall have no health to enjoy life.” 

Some essential elements were out of phase here too. Louisa May Alcott did indeed have bad health in later life. This prevented her from doing many of the things that she would have liked to do.

Two out of three might not be bad, but in such cases they are just not good enough: she needed time, money and good health – and all at the same time. 

In general, it is important for essential elements to come together in the same place at the same time – sometimes known as getting all the ducks in a row. 

In addition to time, money and good health, elements such as opportunity, inclination energy and coping ability may also be required.

Louisa May Alcott's sad words remind me that I too have had times in my life when the key elements I needed were very far from being all present and correct. 

On the other hand, a time came when I made a whole string of day trips and short breaks for which every single one of a whole string of essential and/or desirable elements came into place at the same time. These elements, which were both internal and external, included free time, a strong inclination to explore new places, very good weather and extremely cheap coach tickets and hotel rooms 

Miracles do sometimes happen! 

I may find some more article-inspiring material here:

Some thoughts about wanting and getting

The American science fiction writer Frederik Pohl wrote a book of memoirs called The Way the Future Was. 

I read something in this book that made a big impression, got me thinking, and eventually inspired a small article:

“An observed fact of my life is that I have almost always gotten everything I wanted, sooner or later. Another observed fact is that sometimes by the time I get it I don’t want it any more.”

Fred Pohl's words contradict the proposition that nothing dies that is not lived out, or, in other words, you have to give it a go before you can give it up! In his experience, the desire for something can definitely die of its own accord before the object is achieved or obtained.

There are several reasons why people may lose interest in and any inclination for something that at one time they wanted very much. For example, they may have outgrown it or realised that it wouldn't be suitable and moved on. Perhaps the desired object came too late in life to be of any use to them.

Fred Pohl's words about almost always getting but sometimes no longer wanting something got me thinking about people who always want - or even need - something but never get it. That is a very painful position to be in. Some of them may well adopt a sour grapes attitude, persuading themselves that it isn't worth having; others may realise that they have little choice but to try to come to terms with things as they are, not as they would like them to be.

Fred Pohl's experience may seem rather sad, but the other situation is worse.