This question is obviously heavily influenced by whatever age the writer happens to be at this moment. My answer would be wildly different now than 20 years ago or even 10 years ago. As the experiences of life and events come and go the perspective changes as if one sees a view from a certain height but then the view changes from a different height…..it’s essentially the same view but seen differently.
As a kid I always had time and significant life events couldn’t come soon enough. I actually remember as a kid there were significant amounts of time when I was quite simply bored with nothing to do. But of course I didn’t want my parents to know I was bored because they would always find something for me to do and it usually ended up being some type of chore. I soon learned to regret those moments when I verbally expressed my boredom to one of my parents as I would shortly find myself on the end of a broom sweeping out the garage or with a sponge in my hand washing a car.
And life events couldn’t come soon enough as a kid…… I couldn’t wait to turn 10, that seemed like such a big number, and of course becoming a teenager was a milestone which was soon eclipsed by finally turning 16 and getting a drivers license. Oh the life events come quickly when your young…..graduating high school, going off to college, turning 21, starting jobs and adulthood. A whirlwind of events and milestones marks the passage of time at that age.
The life events of marriage and starting a family mean the somewhat carefree days of being young and single are over, but the milestones are just has significant when shared with loved ones. Watching a child grow up and experience those milestones brings a certain joy and pride that only a parent can relate to.
And speaking of parents, you soon notice that life becomes more difficult for them and plans must be made for their future comfort and the sad inevitability that someday both your parents will pass away.
As I sit here now in my late 50’s and look ahead to the future I’m acutely aware of the time I have left and all the things I want to do. There’s places I want to go, goals I want to accomplish and I constantly feel I don’t have the time. I ponder retirement not that it’s imminently close, it’s more like a daydream, but it feels closer now than ever before. I talk to friends around the same age and we ponder what retirement would be like, a world not ruled by an alarm clock, emails or deadlines. Is there time to do the things you’ve always wanted or are your days just as busy because now you have the time.
When I was younger each life event was like a warm embrace, a comforting milestone on life’s journey…..now the milestones are fewer, the days seem to run together but time passes more quickly…..my son is the one coming into adulthood checking off milestones and experiencing life and I wonder how I will find the time to accomplish all that I want.
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