You're the Boss of You
Buckle up. The Days Go Fast.
(The following is from Chapter One of ‘Passing the Baton: A Father’s Notes for His Children’, which is a work in progress.)
When I was 11 years old, I told my grandmother that I wished I was 12 so I could have a paper route. (That meant having the job of delivering newspapers to peoples’ homes. Oh, and newspapers were printed publications that had news articles, comics, ads, and other stuff to read.) She smiled and told me not to wish my life away, because it was going to pass quickly all by itself. That was the first time I remember hearing the message from an elder that life will go fast, so be sure to appreciate the days and years, and don’t wish them away.
I also remember as a 17-year old getting ready to go to college, my mother telling me to enjoy the next four years because they were going to go fast. I recall thinking, What are you talking about?! Four years?! Because four years seemed far beyond any time horizon I’d ever considered before.
Now I look in the mirror and see that I’m an elder (gulp!). And looking back, I realize that I didn’t appreciate those nuggets of wisdom at the time. Of course, why would I? Those were old people talking.
When we’re kids, and even young adults, the days ahead seem limitless, like a vast expanse on an endless horizon, and regardless of what we’re told by our parents and grandparents, which is to make the most of every moment, because the days will fly by, it still comes as somewhat of a dark surprise when we get older, like some cruel trick, not only that the days did in fact go fast, but also that there seem to be years and ages that are somehow difficult to remember or account for. So, consider yourself fairly warned, and try to take the advice seriously.
Also, best to think of yourself as a tenant in life, not as an owner, and remember that everything you are, have, or will be, is borrowed, including your mind and your body, so take good care of them, and don’t get too wrapped up in yourself, your possessions or your accomplishments.
Be a good steward, and remember that you, and you alone, are responsible for your journey in life. Your happiness is yours to seek, your success yours to achieve, and your peace yours to find. No doubt you’ll have people who love you, root for you and support you along the way, but don’t become dependent on them, because in the end no one owes you anything and your life is a gift that belongs only to you.
Beautiful. You reminded me of something my grandfather said when I’d wished to be older. I’ll get it wrong, because I didn’t understand what he was saying in the moment, but it went something like this: the rose in full bloom is a beautiful sight, but the rosebud is even sweeter to those who can see the future as it unfolds. I wish he’d been around as I grew older and this began to make sense!