4 Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. 5 When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven. – Proverbs 23:4
The beautiful thing about the life lived after 30 is the slow death of the need to impress. There is something about this age where you get more comfortable in your skin, more likely to give up the act. I was recently discussing this with a friend who proudly wore a Star Wars belt buckle in public. In confidence we spoke of the renewed gusto for life received after you reach a certain comfort stage. By 30, we realize we will never play in the NBA, nor will we front a famous rock band, or star in the next blockbuster. Our dreams have been tempered with an aged wisdom. Those youthful dreams are beautiful in their own right. The cocktail of naivety and youthful passions are what makes it such a fun, albeit sometimes frustrating, period. Yet there is a pleasure in settling in for the next thirty plus years of living. The bar is somewhat lowered as adult passions and what truly matters become more pronounced.
My son Reed has taught me this. I find my ambitions and need to climb the invisible and absurd ladder of success fading into something else. My desire to be at home, playing on the floor, and changing countless diapers has become more of a reward – a badge of a noble life lived quietly. There is an incredible sense that if I love my wife and son well, I have been a success. Regardless of status, respect, accolades, or job title, they are achievement. They are my resume.
Whatever happens on this frustrating of Monday’s, remember to grab hold of that which is worthy of your precious time. Hold loosely the things of this world and it’s shining achievements. Live nobly. Live quietly. Live for the heartbeat of life which gives meaning and joy.
Get on the ground and play.
Matt simon blog 