“Someday is not a day of the week.” — Janet Dailey
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What keeps your “someday” in the future? Understanding the hesitation can help you give something you care about a real date on your calendar. |
“Someday” is such an easy word to live with.
Someday I’ll write it. Take the class. Apply for it. Have the conversation. Try something different.
It keeps a possibility alive without asking us to face the uncertainty of beginning. We can imagine doing something meaningful while staying safely away from the chance of rejection, disappointment, failure, or feeling a little foolish.
Sometimes we have practical reasons to wait. Health, money, responsibilities, and timing matter. But sometimes we are waiting to feel ready—and haven’t stopped to consider what “ready” would actually look like.
Think about the someday conversations you have with yourself. You know the ones: an idea catches your interest, a little excitement rises, and almost immediately, your thoughts begin moving it into the future.
Do you recognize what happens in that moment? Do you pause long enough to understand WHY it becomes someday instead of today—or at least plan the day on your calendar?
Perhaps you worry about what someone will think. Perhaps a past disappointment still has a voice in your decisions. You may be asking yourself to feel confident before doing the very thing that could help you build confidence.
There is something worth discovering beneath that familiar word.
Choose an empty calendar slot at the end of this month and name it Someday. Whenever you catch yourself having a “someday” thought, put it in writing in that space. Revisit your collection daily, if possible, and notice which thoughts keep returning.
Then choose one and ask yourself: Why is this a “someday”? What is holding me back from giving it an actual date? Write down whatever comes to mind. Be honest and kind with yourself—the purpose is to understand what’s slowing you down. You'll be surprised to find out that many of them may have a common denominator.
Your notes might look something like this:
“Someday I’ll take that painting class.” What’s holding me back? I’m worried everyone else will be better. But a beginner’s class could give me room to learn.
“Someday I’ll contact that friend.” What’s stopping me? I don’t know what to say after so much time. Perhaps “I’ve been thinking about you” is enough to begin.
“Someday I’ll share my idea.” Why am I waiting? I’m afraid no one will take it seriously. I could start by talking it through with someone I trust.
As your thoughts collect, look for patterns. Is the same worry showing up in different places? Are you waiting for someone’s approval—or expecting yourself to get everything right on the first try?
This is a chance to understand yourself, without criticizing yourself for waiting. You may discover that something still matters deeply to you. You may also realize that another idea no longer fits your life, and you can let it go.
By the time you reach your Someday calendar slot, choose one thing you’d like to move forward. Give a small first step a real date: look up the painting class on Tuesday, draft that message on Saturday, or spend twenty minutes putting your idea on paper.
You may still feel uncertain. That’s okay. A small step gives you something real to build on—and a chance to discover what happens when you begin.
Janet Dailey’s quote offers a chance to notice how easily an intention can drift beyond our reach. Giving it a date brings it close enough to consider honestly.
And when you find yourself saying, “Someday,” you’ll have somewhere to put that thought—and a day when you’ve promised yourself you’ll listen.
By Eugenia M. Jarrett
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