As I’ve mentioned before, not too long ago I passed a significant age milestone.
(Indeed, I’ve mentioned that fact so many times now in this burgeoning blog, I’m beginning to wonder if all of this can be traced back to that one development. And you know what? I’d be OK with that. If all of this can be traced back to one birthday which got my attention, so be it. And thank God for that birthday.)
Here’s one little piece of perspective it’s gained me…
(At least, I think it has. Maybe just a little.)
I think about all the things that frustrate me in the course of a day, like clutter in the house, and the way other family drivers park our cars in the driveway, and how the dishes are lined up (or not) when they’re put in the dishwasher. (And yes, I’m keenly aware of the fact that they’re bearing with me more than I’m bearing with them.) And then I think about things that are weightier than those, like the state of certain relationships, and opportunities that are out there right now but may not be for long.
Well, now I’m older. You might even say, now I’m old. Period.
And the fact is, I’ve only got so many days left. (I know, that’s always true, for all of us. But now it feels true-er.) And I’ve only got so much energy left to expend. And I find I’m caring less now about certain things (in a good way, I believe), because I find myself thinking, They’re just not worth it. Choose your battles. Choose your investments. The time and energy you’ve got left, are you really going to invest them in worrying about that?! Especially if the return on your investment (I mean, what you’re likely to gain) looks low.
I’ll admit, there may just be some OCD in me.
(Wife and children: “Uh, duh. Yeah. A little.”)
Well, I guess I’m feeling less obsessive and compulsive these days (about some things, anyway), because obsession and compulsion take time and energy, and when you realize you’ve got a limited and dwindling supply of both, your perspective changes.
“Like grains of sand through the hourglass…”