justplainbil

Just Plain Bill

“Age is a thief…”

I was intrigued by a recent quote, taken from an article written by Frank Bruni in the 11/09/14 edition of The New York Times: Gray Hair and Silver Lining. 

“Age is a thief. But it gives as much as it takes.”

I was especially intrigued with Bruni’s comment about “… lost ambitions. There’s a point at which you have to accept that certain hopes and dreams won’t be realized…”

That realization syncs with thoughts I’ve had for many decades about having “half of my life left” to do the things undone, undo the things I shouldn’t have done, to work on things that should be worked on – and finished – and so on.

The mind talk went something like this: “I’m now 25 and I know many folks who are 50, so I really have over half of my life to get things done.” You may have had a similar, if not identical thought. And, when we’re 30, we know many folks who are active at 60. But eventually the realization starts to set in that we don’t know many folks active at 80 when we’re 40 - and so on.

I’m grateful that Bruni includes the realization that with passing time we can soften our judgments, elect the positives, and appreciate the following: “…you gain as much as you lose, and that there are slivers of opportunity and points of connection where you least expect them.” I’m committed to looking more closely for those “slivers” amongst the woodpile of life.

And a final comment meant to be so much more than an afterthought…if you happen to be a 38-year old reader, relax a bit…you know at least one active person twice your age…me! You still have lots of time…just please don’t take this time thing for granted.

P.S.  Definitely don’t follow the advice seen on a bumper sticker the other day: “Carpe Mañana!”