The Meaning of Excitement

We throw the word excited around a lot. Excited for the weekend. Excited for a new TV show. Excited to try a new restaurant. But half the time, aren’t we really just saying we’re looking forward to something? That’s not quite the same thing.

Real excitement is bigger. It’s a winning touchdown. It’s the long-awaited movie you’ve been counting down to. It’s the kind of joy that lights up your whole face without you even realizing it.

For me, the last time I felt that true spark was my trip to Kentucky. I’d looked forward to it for months, and when it finally came, it lived up to the hype — distilleries, history, great bourbon, and great friends. One of the best trips of my life.

But even that doesn’t top seeing Lizzi and Sullivan. Honestly, nothing does. Lizzi texted me just yesterday that Sully is now asking for and eating green beans. That may not sound like much, but to this grandpa, it’s thrilling to see him grow, learn, and even choose healthy food on his own. Every time I think of him, I know my face lights up — and that’s excitement in the truest sense.

So maybe we should be more careful with the word. Amusing? Interesting? Engaging? Sure. But excited? That word deserves to be saved for the moments that really deserve it.

About Douglas Blaine

Capnpen is a writer who was a newspaper and magazine journalist in a previous life. A college journalism major, he now works as an English teacher, but gets his writing fix by blogging about a variety of topics, including politics, religion, movies and television. When he's not working or blogging, Capnpen spends time with his family, plays a little golf (badly) and loves to learn about virtually anything.

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