Sunday, April 27, 2014

Life gets better as you get older



Life keeps getting better as I have entered my last year in my 20's. It just keeps getting more fun. I don't know if I have just have a better, or rather more optimistic perspective on what is good and bad or what it is. For me, as a 29 year old I am more established and know more about what I want than I did at 22. Every day for me is pretty awesome. I think we equate getting older as life getting worse  because we hear that is what is supposed to happen. Sure, there are things I wish I could do now that I can't. I can't play 6 games of basketball in a row anymore without feeling that I'm going to have a heart attack. I can't eat 6 bagels without knowing I'll have to work out for 17 hours the next day to work it off. I can't wake up after a bender and run 5 miles.

Notice, what I said before were all physical symptoms.  Mental is more important in life, and as you get older most of us get mentally stronger. We start figuring stuff out. I know what I want to do for the rest of my life, but more importantly what I DON't want to do.  I'm as confident and comfortable in my own skin as I have ever been. I know what people I want and don't want in my life. I'm done with school and understand and accept  what I want for a career. It is all coming together.

It's funny, I remember 5 years ago or so my Dad and I were kayaking and he said to me, "Life is better now, better than ever." My dad is my idol and someone I try to strive to be everyday even though I can never be as great a man as him.  Anyway, when I heard that I chuckled to myself thinking this was just something a Dad would say. Could that actually be true? But youth is gone? Now, as I reflect on that I can see why he said that and why it is true. He has done everything he's wanted to do. He is fulfilled, which I think is basically what we all want as humans. We all want to be fulfilled. What a cool place to be.

Let's not think of getting older as a bad thing. Let's reverse that thought and realize that we are older, wiser ,stronger, and able to build more lasting relationships(I know I sound like Dr. Phil). We get to become experts in our field of choice. We don't have to choose between getting food and beer. We realize who we are. I don't know about you, but bring on 30,40 and 50. Life keeps getting better and the dream lives on.