Contentment: One of the Added Benefits of Old Age

At the beginning of each new year, I like to review the previous year and put some plans in place for the coming year. I like to evaluate those things that I thought were successful and those things where I fell short. I even send out emails to some of the top agents in my community and ask them what things they did to enhance their business. You would be surprised the valuable information you can obtain if you simply ask.

I also go over all the postings I wrote on Active Rain. My posts are more of a self-reflective nature. I very rarely write about real estate. There are others on here who have forgotten more than I know about the business. There is no point in me rehashing what others have said previously, and most likely expressed far better than me. No, my posts tend to be a glimpse into my thoughts and feelings at the time I wrote them. I then compare one year’s posts against the previous year’s…it tends to give me a measuring stick as to my growth as a human being.

In previous years, all this self-reflection has tended to call out my weaknesses…both on a professional level, and on a personal level. And that’s OK. We humans should strive for improvement in all areas of our life. Only when we honestly hold ourselves accountable for our actions; and perhaps more importantly, our in-actions can we truly grow and become better.

But this year was different.

This year, when I finished my evaluation and pulled myself out from under the microscope; I discovered that I had uncovered something new about myself. I felt contentment! I was content with what I have been able to accomplish with my life. It was such a freeing feeling. I am still basking in the glow of this new self-discovery weeks afterward.

No, I hadn’t had a breakout year. No, I was not one of the 3 recent PowerBall winners. I had not done anything in 2015 that was any more significant from any of the previous 66 years I have been on this planet. But here is what I discovered…because I AM old; my life is nearly a completed body of work. I am not just evaluating a year here, or a year there. I have a whole bunch of years that I can look back on. I have had a career! Yes, that it…my life is now, for all intents and purposes…a complete career. If I had been a baseball player, I would now have a lifetime batting average.

Here is what I have learned…

1. While I am walking around in an old man’s body and dealing with the aches and pains of an old man; I am grateful that I am an old man. I know now that each day is a gift to be treasured, to be made the most of. Rather than dwell on the days I squandered, I am going to be thankful for the days I have been given. I know now that not every day needs a day of accomplishment. There needs to be days for reflection. There needs to be days for being thankful and grateful.

2. While my wife is now old too, I am grateful that at 19-years old; she decided to spend her life with me on this journey for the past 46 years. She could have picked a half a dozen other guys who might have been a greater blessing to her…but she picked me, and more importantly…if she ever thought twice about her decision, she never let me know about it. Her love has been my greatest gift.

3. While my kids had their moments growing up, they are all grown now and living productive and useful lives. They are kind, loving, and generous. They are more a reflection of their mother, than of me; but I am proud to be their father.

4. While I never became as successful and as rich as I thought I would be back in my younger days…I have done alright. I once heard that success is measured not in what you have, but in what you had to give up to be successful.

5. While I may not possess all the material things I want…there is nothing me or my family needs. When I look around the world, not many can say that.

So, if you are old too; perhaps this gave you the opportunity to reflect on your situation and be grateful instead of regretful. If you are young, perhaps you can take away from this that each day presents you with an opportunity to be a blessing to those around you. To all of us, maybe we can still strive for excellence, without losing sight of how our lives have been blessed.