Yesterday was my birthday. 61 years ago yesterday, I was wrested from my mother’s womb, 7 weeks ahead of schedule. I wasn’t supposed to survive, but I did anyway.
It wasn’t that long ago that I considered 61 years old to be really, really old. I don’t think that now. The new way of thinking of “elderly” is to simply add 20 years to my current age to define the starting point for old age. This is a useful sliding scale to deftly sidestep copping to being “elderly”.
Even if I refuse to think of 61 as being “old”, I have learned a thing or two, and since we’re welcoming so many young people into the CBA, I thought I would take this opportunity to pass along what little wisdom I have picked up.
You’re Never Too Old to Learn Something New
Nothing makes you feel young (and clumsy) like trying to learn something new. Take up a new instrument, or a new hobby every few years. Some of these will stick with and transform your life. Or it will provide a few laughs, fodder to cocktail party conversations and items for future garage sales, but either way, you come out ahead.
The View From the Inside Out Never Changes
A bright sunny day, playing with a puppy, the site of a high mountain meadow, watching good musicians play, the smell of dirt and grass, and the sight of a comely young lady are just as thrilling now as they ever were. But that last one – keep that to yourself, or everyone will think you’re a dirty old man.
You Can Alter Your Dreams
Your possibilities in life start as endless, and narrow rapidly as you grow older. Most of us, at one time or another take a path that turns out to be a dead end. Yes, strive for your dreams – up to a point. Sometimes, it’s better to discard an old dream and find a new one. Don’t waste too much time regretting the dreams that didn’t turn out. It’s not that difficult, so long as you replace every dead-end dream with a fresh one. The quest itself is as valuable as the expected reward at the end of the quest.
Intelligent, Decent People Can Disagree
I have seen too many friendships end over squabbles over religion or politics. When it comes to these things, you can never change someone’s mind and nobody’s absolutely right and nobody’s absolutely wrong. Discussions that lead to heated arguments and bad feelings are a waste of time. Of course, arguing over baseball or the definition of “true” bluegrass is good clean fun and great way to spend an entire extended weekend.
Life is Precious
I have seen some loved ones pass away. This is my fifth birthday without birthday wishes from my mother. But I take great and meaningful joy in spending time with my sisters, my wife, my kids, their kids and my friends. I want this to go on, with as many of these people, as I possibly can. Perversely, the years that seemed to crawl by when I was younger (“When will I ever be old enough to drive?”) now race by with increasing speed. Like all old people, I would tell young people to pay more attention to the passing of time, but I didn’t listen to that advice when I was young – why should they?
