The Illusion of an Endless Summer

I remember when time stretched into the future like a never-ending highway. As I look into the rear-view mirror, I sometimes wish I had taken some time to relish my precious moments a bit more. But I was young and in a hurry to get to what I hoped would be the next big thing. How naive I was to believe in the mirage of an endless summer. Sadly, it was not.

Before long, the passage of time accelerated, only briefly pausing to allow me to acknowledge significant moments—a wedding, the birth of a baby, the passing of a loved one. Life is short, I began to think. But is it?

Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca suggested, "It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it." As I begin my 74th orbit around the sun on this little blue marble in space, I now understand the wisdom in those words. I imagine what it would be like and where I would be if I had used every moment I had on doing something worthwhile, if I had not procrastinated instead of taking action, if I had made better and bolder decisions, but I don't linger on those thoughts. I can't change the past, I can only make the most of this moment, right now.

It's been a fascinating ride on this superhighway of life. I've seen many beautiful places, and loved them all. (Egypt - you are calling me now.) I've learned the importance and privilege of having a strong, loving, supportive family. I've had amazing mentors and friends who have patiently shepherded me along. I've had astonishing experiences I never dreamed I could have. I've experienced ecstatic moments of joy and a time when I fell to my knees in grief and sadness, not knowing what the future held for me. Yet, miraculously, I was guided out of my "dark night of the soul" to renew my love affair with living.

And so I find myself here, in the winter of my life, with a deep appreciation and gratitude for each new morning that dawns.

On my desk, where I see it every day, I keep a reminder from Marcus Aurelius:

"You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think."

Marcus had the right idea.