There is a word we use when something has been wasted. It stings to hear, is used almost solely after that thing has passed us by. The middle-aged man whose father has just died realizes he’s squandered the chance to get to know him. The lottery winner whose bank account hits zero laments squandering her winnings. The old man on his deathbed realizes he’s squandered his life— never fully appreciated its gift. We use squander in retrospect because no one plans on squandering. When opportunity is before us, we tend to have great delusions of putting every ounce of that potential to use. I will save my lottery winnings, put some aside, devote some charity. I will get to know my father next time I’m home for a weekend. I will make my life one worth living. When I get to the end, it will have been worth it.
On Squandering
On Squandering
On Squandering
There is a word we use when something has been wasted. It stings to hear, is used almost solely after that thing has passed us by. The middle-aged man whose father has just died realizes he’s squandered the chance to get to know him. The lottery winner whose bank account hits zero laments squandering her winnings. The old man on his deathbed realizes he’s squandered his life— never fully appreciated its gift. We use squander in retrospect because no one plans on squandering. When opportunity is before us, we tend to have great delusions of putting every ounce of that potential to use. I will save my lottery winnings, put some aside, devote some charity. I will get to know my father next time I’m home for a weekend. I will make my life one worth living. When I get to the end, it will have been worth it.