“The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected.”
― Robert Frost
I've been thinking a lot about aging lately.
Not that I'm really that old. In many ways, I still feel very young. (To many folks, I still am, I suppose.)
But still, it's tough if you see it as a steady decline over time, time that's running out on your unfulfilled hopes and dreams. Or if you focus on young competitors catching up and overtaking you, or all of your past failures and mistakes--greener grass you missed out on.
But what if, instead, you focus on where you are now, what you can do to help people now, what you do have to offer the world, now.
Because though the young may have a touch more energy, strength, attractiveness, time, potential, and perhaps creativity, they could probably use your experience, perspective, wisdom, insight, and capital. And they could definitely use your support, smile, compassion, and encouragement.
The day may come when you really do have little to offer--when you can't do anything but breathe. Then you can rest, as after a job well done.
But today is not that day, and you've still got work to do.
Not that I'm really that old. In many ways, I still feel very young. (To many folks, I still am, I suppose.)
But still, it's tough if you see it as a steady decline over time, time that's running out on your unfulfilled hopes and dreams. Or if you focus on young competitors catching up and overtaking you, or all of your past failures and mistakes--greener grass you missed out on.
But what if, instead, you focus on where you are now, what you can do to help people now, what you do have to offer the world, now.
Because though the young may have a touch more energy, strength, attractiveness, time, potential, and perhaps creativity, they could probably use your experience, perspective, wisdom, insight, and capital. And they could definitely use your support, smile, compassion, and encouragement.
The day may come when you really do have little to offer--when you can't do anything but breathe. Then you can rest, as after a job well done.
But today is not that day, and you've still got work to do.
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