Like Fine Wine
Posted on June 15, 2007
A life well lived, which I hope mine continues to be, is like a bottle of fine wine. It really does get better with age.
Yesterday, I sat down and updated my resume and posted it to Portfolio. It’s something I try to do every year or so as I figure it’s just a good idea. It took me less time to revise even though I had more to pack-in on two pages. It should be that way. As we move through life and pick-up experience we grow our skills and experience.
I’ve picked-up or improved on other skills as of late. My guitar picking has improved, I’m learning how to garden and am finding more enjoyment in written communication.
Age also brings perspective. I move a little slower than I used to, am a little more thoughtful and less impulsive and I think a little more compassionate and patient with people.
I do find that my strengths and weaknesses seem to be more pronounced. I am more engaged in creative work but loath redundancy and routine. I’m fighting against the mid-life muck that some call a crisis. I see life as too short to stand by and ride through like a cog caught in a system. I want to live until I die, to the very end.
Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity says essentially that time is elastic. I believe it. It’s true in the cosmos, but I believe it’s real in our lives as well. I spent a decade of my life one year living in the middle east. I spent a day of my life this past month working at my job. The Bible says that a thousand years is like a day to God.
The most amazing thing for me in living is spending my life getting to know the One who created me. This God who created the universe 14 billion years ago, that set in motion a continual expansion of the galaxies, is beyond comprehension.
When it’s all said and done and my time here on earth is through, I’m going to look back on my life and what is written in my resume will turn to dust. What’s written in the hearts of my children and the people I touch will live on well beyond my years. That’s what living is to me.
Filed Under Ponderings, Just for Fun, Philosophy, perspective |
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6 Responses to “Like Fine Wine”
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That is a nice post. I like the beginning and love the ending, thanks for letting me know that life gets better instead of worse…I was in the middle of a quarter-life crisis.
Lady_T, glad it is encouraging. Yes, I think youth is both wonderful and difficult. If I could ratchet back 10 or 15 years, I might do it, only if I could take the wisdom I now have with me. Hang in there and dodge the land mines.
I read this very interesting book by Tom Robbins, ‘Jitterbug Perfume’ in which he talks about immortality among other things. His view is we can cheat our DNA to believe we are young if we keep believing we are…. I am really simplifying it but that’s the essence of it.
I really believe the minute we stop learning new things we decay and waste away
Random Magus, Yes learning is a central element to life. I do agree with you wholeheartedly. It makes life fun.
Quite a thoughtful and passionate post, Phil. And I completely understand the concept of how who we have been is carried on, even though with respect to microscopic analysis, sometimes is may not be the best of us. I’m thinking of the impact I’ve had on the kids with whom I’ve worked and often wonder how they are, what they’ve decided to do with their lives, and most importantly, whether they’re happy.
Questioning and wondering keep me young. Continuing to learn to laugh more than I ever have in my life is important, too.
I see nothing but possibilities in front of me — and I’ve got you by 10 years. Hang in there, Phil. It gets better and better — in spite of the bumps in the road there for us to contend with and learn from.
Thanks Kelly, Yeah I do believe life gets better as we go along. No necessarily easier, but better in the sense of purpose, resolve and focus on the most important things. I’m slowly learning that, at least I hope. Somewhere after 30 I think youth really is in the mind. My mother is many years younger than her literal years due largely to her great outlook on life.