A couple of days ago, I realized that I can’t sit in front of the computer without my glasses. I can, but it’s much harder for me to see clearly. Also, this happened a few months ago, I’ve noticed a lot of gray hairs in what was once my black mane. Before, I would only notice them when I cut my hair very short; however, now it’s evident that I have many “white streaks” on my head and in my beard, not to mention the “furrows” I have around my eyes when I smile (which I do a lot, haha). Life goes by so fast and so dizzyingly that we often don’t realize what’s really happening: We are aging. We are leaving.
It’s clear. I can’t consider myself an old man yet, much less feel that my abilities have diminished, haha. But it’s truly been an awakening to see that we are not the same as we were about 25 years ago. That’s a good thing, in many ways. It all depends on how you see it (or how you want to see it).
My life, without playing the victim, has always been full of complications and adventures, which (like everyone else) have made me who I am and given me the present I live in. I can’t complain in the slightest about all of this, but I have managed to see things from a different perspective. I look back with joy and satisfaction, and forward with hope and high expectations. There was definitely a before and after in my life after my bout with COVID-19. Surviving such a terrible experience made me see things differently, and my plans inevitably had to change direction.
One morning I woke up thinking that the phrase “time flies” is not just a cliché, but rather a definitive and undeniable truth. My family, my friends, and so many people I care about (like you) are aging with me; in other words, time passes the same for everyone, whether you want it to or not, whether you take things more or less philosophically. You can’t stop it, you can’t freeze it, you can’t buy it, and you can’t get it back. It simply passes. It goes. It ends.
It’s important to take a few minutes to reflect on this because otherwise, time will keep passing without you realizing it, and most likely, when you do realize, it will be too late for many things you fervently desired and, for one reason or another, never started. It’s harsh, but it’s real, or do we have another chance after this life ends, or can someone really guarantee that “we will start over”? No, they can’t.
My children are growing up (all four of them), and soon they’ll be piloting their own lives and accumulating their own adventures, which will eventually make them who they are meant to be. As much as I long for the best for them, I can only guide them along the way, but not walk it for them (although I’d love to, haha). It’s a pity, but we are not eternal, and the worst thing we can do in that regard is raise them as if we were. They need to be aware of this.
Anyway. On this cold and rainy morning, I woke up thinking about my gray hairs, my children, and all the things I have to do this week (meetings, deals, and even flights included), and I didn’t want to let this little reflection slip by. Take a moment, hit the brakes, look around you carefully, and take a step back. Try to see your life “from above,” and you’ll see that we’re all missing something by going so fast: Life.
Sending you a huge hug and hoping you have a great week.