It has come to my attention that as of December 28th, 2015, I shall be 50 years of age. 50?
How has this happened? I don’t know what to think or to feel. I hope I am at my mid-point, but if not, that’s life.
I don’t want to write, 50 years ‘OLD‘, because I don’t think or feel ‘OLD‘. I’ve been lucky in life, by and large, and unless I told you I was 50, you’d not think me 50.
I don’t think I act like a stereotypical 50 year old remembering from my Kentucky childhood when men wore felt hats and wool overcoats, wingtip shoes and smoked a pack a day. It seemed everything was covered in a smoky haze. And I am old enough understand what it means to ask someone, “Do you have Prince Albert in the can?”
My hair has started to turn gray, but I am thankful to have my hair. I’m not real wrinkly, because all my wrinkles are hidden behind my hazel colored eyes. For the most part I’m in good health, although my knees remind me I’m not 18. I need glasses to read and write, but I like my old school frames.
I’m thankful that my wife loves me, and I love her. And that she has put up with my neuortic self for almost 20 years. In fact, it’s because of her that I started sharing my thoughts.
But what else do I think and feel? I’m 50. So what, I cannot change that fact.
First, I am thankful to be alive and have my health. Of course I wrote a novel about those pesky negative thoughts from my youth. I used a pen name for my first published novel because I was afraid to be discovered. But I’ve worked past all those negative feelings to realize my life has value. If you like what I wrote, thank you.
Now, these days I like my pen name, it’s my place where I go to write to me – for me.
Writing was something I was encouraged not to do when I was a child. Thankfully, I stopped listening to those negative influences, and these days I like to wear bow ties, colorful woven socks and write.
What else have I learned from my journey that might be useful? These are things I wish I had learned when I was 5.
- My life, or any life, is not determined by any known mathmatical model that takes the financial square root of my ownership equity divided by my popularity multiplied by the power of X.
- There are a lot of rich and famous people who seem unhappy to me. I think that’s sad.
- Seek whatever makes you feel happy.
- I think my value equates to sharing positive thoughts and ideas with the known universe.
- Be happy for someone else’s success. Then go find your own.
- Be a good winner.
- I try to act and to be happy. Even if I don’t feel good, I don’t try to bring someone else down.
- I work at being happy.
- Be nice to the check-out person at the grocery store, the waiter, or someone that provides a service. They have a job and they are paying their taxes.
- If someone does not add value to your life, if they don’t encourage you to seek happiness, and respect you – remove them. I know that may read as harsh, but I mean it.
- Compete. It might seem scary to walk toward the ledge, but if you step out without knowing where you’ll land, you’re living. Compete.
- If you fall, get up. If you fall again, get up. (repeat as necessary)
- Help someone get up after a fall.
- I think the key to life is to never care what anyone thinks about you.
- If you live your life weighted down by a list of complaints, you’re not living.
- If you worry about what other people think of you, you’re not being authentic.
- I think the political class divides us and creates conflict to enrich themselves and keep power. I think they are a sad crowd. I look at all those really old senators, and I wonder what good have they done? Not much. And I don’t like how they manipulate our youth, and then create a victimized class.
- Don’t live your life as a vicitm. (See #10)
- If you feel sorry for yourself, go visit the cancer ward at any children’s hospital. You’ll be instantly cured.
- As to my faith, I don’t know if there is an almighty God. But I do know there is evil in the world. So, if there is evil, it would follow there is the polar opposite – good. I like a phrase that I will borrow to make my point, “I love Jesus, but I drink a bit.”
- Love without reservation, even if you don’t get love in return.
And so I am lucky enough to be 50 years young. I wrote a line at the end of Bobby’s Socks that I hope I get to write about when I’m really, really old and wrinkled. “He got to be old, and lived a life of unconditional love.”
Happy Birthday, Bobby.
PS ~ If you’re feeling down, get yourself a pair of colorful warm socks. They have magical powers.
Laronda says
Great article!
I will be celebrating 51 in January, Whitesburg,KY