Age is a foolish thing to control, foolish because it is one thing completely out of our control. In periods of life, we want to be an age that we are not. Children try to be as old as they can, claiming eight and half years old rather than eight. For the person who will turn sixty-two years old in three days, they will claim sixty-one up until the last moment. Why is it so hard to be content with our age?
On the farmlands where I grew up, there were lots of cows that grazed in the fields. I can still recall the countless times a cow stuck its neck through a barbed wire fence to chew the grass on the other side. Even at an early age, I thought how strange it was for them to do that. Was it really worth sharp jabs to the neckline to chew on grass that was clearly the same as that growing beneath the fence? It was the sweet taste of “freedom grass” they were chewing on. Or it was just the dream of something different from what they had grown accustomed to. Humans are not particularly different, thinking that life on the other side of the fence is so much better.
Is life how we imagined it a year ago? Did we reach for something new or settle for the same old things? It is easy to look forward to the future without giving attention to the present. Living every day with that kind of mentality is a mistake because it is not a winning strategy for life. If every day is lived neglecting the present, a future will still happen but not likely a desirable one.
Similarly harmful, is living in the past. For those living in certain regions, the seasons stay the same climate all year round. But for a sizable part of the population, the seasons change. In winter, conditions tend to be harsh, and life is a struggle to survive. When spring comes though, life begins to flourish once again. Summer brings more work but at the same time gives more sunshine. By the time fall comes around, it is only a matter of time before the struggle reveals itself once again.
During the routine of life, we often lose sight of things. If struggling to get through day by day, this becomes even more clear. To some, the end of a year is a party, celebrating the end of one year and welcoming the next. For me, I like to reflect in thoughtful meditation at the end of a year. It provides an overview of events that occurred, many of which forever changed the outcome of my life. Some years have been harder than others. Some years have brought good fortune. Other years have been a mixed bag, filled with both good and bad experiences. Recognize the value in one year. The thing about a year is that in it, a lot can happen. We may think things are so wonderful that they will always be that way. Unfortunately, this will not likely be the case. On the other hand, things could be so bad, we do not understand how we will get through another day. Fortunately, in that case, things usually get better again eventually. Some years show us both sides of life. A lot can happen in a year. If we have lived the best of times, we should enjoy them and be grateful. If we have lived the worst of times, acknowledge that it will not last. Better days are ahead.
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Today’s post is an excerpt from Jeff Kayser’s book titled “The Value of One.” Return every week to read a new excerpt from the book. Why wait? The book in its entirety is available today at Amazon. Click the link below for the book’s video trailer.