I have 371 days left in my 50s. Wow!
Time flies when you're having fun. Actually, when you get older time flies no matter what you're doing. And, since we have no idea how many days we have left in this life, everyday is a gift, every meal is a banquet and every friend is a joy.
It's a good time to reflect. It's a good time to put the house in order. It's a good time to count blessings.
Friends are important. Do you have any really, really good friends? Friends who will stay with you and have stayed with you over the years through thick and thin, health and illness, fortune and famine? (I am not counting family. Family is different.) I am lucky to have a couple really, really good friends and I am blessed to be able to spend time with them. Do you get to spend time with your friends? Make it so!
Some people come and go from your life, and some people are there for the long haul. Have you ever been reacquainted with someone that you had a strong relationship with years ago but for one reason or the other drifted apart? It's quite a feeling. I recommend it. Estrangement eats away at you, and no one needs that.
How about being reacquainted with a large group of people that you have stayed in touch with in part but time and distance has kept you from realizing the fruits of your relationship? Last April I participated in a reunion of my Beta Upsilon chapter of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity at the University of Virginia. Our chapter was 50 years old and we came together as a group to celebrate. I saw people that I see regularly and I saw people that I haven't seen in 35 years. It was absolutely wonderful to catch up with these guys and I am convinced that if our circumstances permitted it, we would reestablish our great, great friendships. Some of my best friends to this day are my Pi Kapp Brothers.
What do you like to do? Are you doing what you like to do? I like practicing law because I like helping people, I like serving my community in city government, I like serving my profession, and I like football. I guess I'm doing what I like to do. Are you? Does the day-to-day grind keep you from enjoying your life? If so, my advice is to change that pattern and do what you like to do. Life is too short.
What would you do if you did not have to work to earn money to pay your bills ? I have a friend who has already retired to a golf course in Florida. If I was healthy, I still couldn't do that (for any more than a month or two.) I have thought about this a lot and came to the conclusion that I would probably do exactly what I'm doing now – staying busy trying to help, serve my community and serve my profession . I am fortunate that I am in a position where I can do this so long as I make enough to cover my basic monthly bills. Not everybody else can do this. Many of my generation are going to be faced with this problem as regular pensions (defined benefit plans) are fading away, 401(k) plans are being whipsawed by the market and the retirement age for Social Security is raised . We all need to find something we like to do and do it.
Do you go to church? Do you have some sort of spiritual life? I do and I hope you do. My church is my home away from home. My great great grandmother has a stained-glass window in my church. Other churches may have more to offer, but my church is my church. My church family is for real and I rely on them as they rely on me.
Friends, Functions and Faith. Good Subjects for reflection. Wonder what my 60's will be like?
TLR.
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