Thread
Life is short.
This fact has been smacking me in the face lately.
Here's what I'm thinking I should do about it.
This fact has been smacking me in the face lately.
Here's what I'm thinking I should do about it.
First, some background. My mom turned 70 this week.
I reached out to many of her dearest friends and family and asked them to send me a short video sharing a memory or something they love about her so that I could assemble it into a short video homage.
I reached out to many of her dearest friends and family and asked them to send me a short video sharing a memory or something they love about her so that I could assemble it into a short video homage.
I got back some beautiful messages and was so grateful to be able to share that with my mom to memorialize this moment in time.
Going through this exercise made me realize how many of these people I have not seen in years or even decades.
Going through this exercise made me realize how many of these people I have not seen in years or even decades.
My mom's friends and co-workers, even siblings and in-laws—the ones who were influential adults in my life when I was a kid—are now in their 60s and 70s.
And seeing them in these short videos gave me a bittersweet feeling.
And seeing them in these short videos gave me a bittersweet feeling.
On the one hand, it was amazing to see all of these familiar faces—many thriving and as full of life as ever.
On the other hand, it made me so conscious of the passing of time.
On the other hand, it made me so conscious of the passing of time.
Having moved away from my home state of Connecticut some 25 years ago, the mental picture I carry of many of my mom’s contemporaries are those of people in their 30s or 40s.
But time, of course, has marched on.
But time, of course, has marched on.
Now, these are the faces of folks in their 60s or 70s. I remember them as they were at my current age.
But now they are Gramma’s and Papa’s.
But now they are Gramma’s and Papa’s.
It seems like it happened in the snap of finger.
And when that finger snaps again, I know it will be my kids looking at me and saying “Dad - when did you get so old?”
Oh who am I kidding? They already do that.
And when that finger snaps again, I know it will be my kids looking at me and saying “Dad - when did you get so old?”
Oh who am I kidding? They already do that.
It goes by so quick. We forget it sometimes when we're in the middle of it.
We've had a rough couple of weeks at my house—the flu and a stomach bug back-to-back.
That's meant holding kids’ hands at 2am while they vomit one night and soothing the non-stop crying of a near-2-year-old the next.
That's meant holding kids’ hands at 2am while they vomit one night and soothing the non-stop crying of a near-2-year-old the next.
They say the days are long and years are short at this stage of life. Our last few weeks can confirm this is true.
But we need to take it in stride.
But we need to take it in stride.
I found myself getting pissed off this week after my little league team lost a game.
I thought the other team cheated and used some players that technically weren't allowed.
I felt strongly enough to call the commissioner about it after the game.
I thought the other team cheated and used some players that technically weren't allowed.
I felt strongly enough to call the commissioner about it after the game.
Was I right? Sure. Technically, speaking.
But does it really matter? Of course, not.
Today, I'm 43. Tomorrow, I'll be 73. It’s only another snap of the fingers away.
Just ask my mom's generation.
But does it really matter? Of course, not.
Today, I'm 43. Tomorrow, I'll be 73. It’s only another snap of the fingers away.
Just ask my mom's generation.
If I remember anything from my kid’s little league baseball when I'm 73, I hope that it's pride in having coached and made a positive influence on the lives of others.
The win/loss record will be forgotten tomorrow as will so much else of what we stress about today.
The win/loss record will be forgotten tomorrow as will so much else of what we stress about today.
I think about what I might regret at 70.
I'm pretty sure it'll be the things I was too afraid to do right now.
Or time I wasted or squandered.
Or not having achieved my potential.
Or not having been kind enough to someone.
I'm pretty sure it'll be the things I was too afraid to do right now.
Or time I wasted or squandered.
Or not having achieved my potential.
Or not having been kind enough to someone.
Some people (maybe rightly) worry that they're not preparing enough for their future.
I'm worried about the opposite.
I'm worried about the opposite.
I'm worried I might not be living enough today.
Not traveling enough.
Not being ambitious enough.
Not challenging myself enough.
Not taking big, scary risks that could either go terribly wrong or improve my life ten-fold.
That's what I'm worried about.
Not traveling enough.
Not being ambitious enough.
Not challenging myself enough.
Not taking big, scary risks that could either go terribly wrong or improve my life ten-fold.
That's what I'm worried about.
I guess I'm worried about not appreciating it enough right now as well.
I don't know this to be the case, but I'd guess that if I asked my mom's contemporaries if they'd like to go back—even just for a day or a week—to their 30s or 40s, they might jump at the opportunity.
I don't know this to be the case, but I'd guess that if I asked my mom's contemporaries if they'd like to go back—even just for a day or a week—to their 30s or 40s, they might jump at the opportunity.
To see their kids young again.
Maybe to see their spouses or parents alive again.
Well, those of us in our 20s, 30s, or 40s still mostly have the opportunity to do those things today.
We can’t forget how lucky we are.
Maybe to see their spouses or parents alive again.
Well, those of us in our 20s, 30s, or 40s still mostly have the opportunity to do those things today.
We can’t forget how lucky we are.
As such, I'd like to challenge myself to:
• Be more present with my family
• Get out and see more of the world
• Take bigger risks in my career
• Challenge myself physically while I still can
• And be more grateful along the way even w/ my kids at 2am
• Be more present with my family
• Get out and see more of the world
• Take bigger risks in my career
• Challenge myself physically while I still can
• And be more grateful along the way even w/ my kids at 2am
You know all the cliches. Life is short. You only live once, etc.
But the words themselves pass us by without meaning until we actually live them.
But the words themselves pass us by without meaning until we actually live them.
You and I are living it right now.
Let's make sure we're actually giving the best damn effort we can possibly muster.
Because friends, this ride is coming to end before we know it.
Let's make sure we're actually giving the best damn effort we can possibly muster.
Because friends, this ride is coming to end before we know it.
