Senior to Senior: Time Well Spent

When you reach a certain age, you start to reflect on the “what ifs” in your life. Would you, could you, do things differently if you were offered a “do over”? Of course, this isn’t going to happen, but there is still time to pursue a few of your dreams. Given the circumstances, most of us did pretty good. There were more ceilings back then, glass or otherwise, and it took grit and determination, but we are still here. Are you completely satisfied with the choices you made, or does the road not taken still beckon? The years have made us wiser in many respects, but sadder too, and a lot of that sadness has to do with the “would of, should of” moments that we squandered. Time is so precious, if only we had known. We wasted so much time being rebellious, disrespectful, biased, and unreasonable. We should have focused on being better informed, better educated, and more caring. We should have taken better care of ourselves, our families and the environment. All of those “would have, should have” moments have come back to haunt us. Surveys taken reveal that people everywhere regret not listening to or learning from their parents, grandparents. and community leaders. Women lament not learning how to cook, knit, clean or organize their lives from their mothers. Men wish they had learned about auto maintenance, home fix-it, money management, and the importance of a good work ethic from their fathers. You can’t get that time back, but don’t let what you did, or did not do, define who you are now. Use the rest of your time and your wisdom to do something interesting and meaningful. Manage the time you have left, even if you are already old. Take care of yourself and make time for family and friends. Look ahead, but not too far. Focus on what you can do today, and maybe tomorrow. Short term goals. Only you know what really matters to you. So many things to do, so little time. Leap, or creep slowly, into the new year with both feet on the ground. You can’t “do over,” but you “can do” now.