Time On Our Side?

I've been thinking about time lately. Since retiring, I've got more time on my hands than ever before and want to fill it with activities that I've always said I wanted to try but never had time for because I was working. Guitar lessons, travel, writing, yoga classes, taking college courses just for fun, learning a new sport, riding bikes, going shooting with my neighbor, having breakfast or lunch with friends, learning how to build a website, getting a 3D printer and making stuff - all the things I never had time for because I was working.

I will admit that I've started a few of these new hobbies or interests. I'm on my second class at LCCC (Free tuition for seniors), bought a gravel bike and riding when the weather is good, going to Stretch Lab, gone shooting and resumed my guitar lessons. Had a few breakfasts with friends and of course, this website.

If you look at the CDC life expectancy charts, my particular life expectancy is 73.5 years. Of course, I fully expect to outlive that as I'm sure most of us think we're fairly invincible these days. There are always extenuating circumstances that affect our longevity - women live longer than men, white longer than black or Hispanic historically. Of course, if you were born in 1900, your life expectancy was about 47. If you were born in 2000, you've may live a few extra years - charts put you at about 77 years.

Over the last couple of years, I've lost friends way earlier than expected - a couple had heart attacks, some to cancer, one to COVID related illness, a couple suicides. I don't want to be morbid or make this a downer for anyone, but the older I get, the more I realize how precious life is - we all get the same 24 hours in a day and how we choose to spend it is paramount to the quality of that life.

This sort of goes back to the "what I would tell my 20-year-old self" - live your life today as if it's your last - go for the gusto, enjoy your friends, laugh, learn a new skill, be happy. Despite what others may tell us, we own our own destiny and control our own happiness. If something is making you miserable, move on from it. If there is a roadblock to your success, get around it - we have more power than we think. Make a list and figure out your happiness and what's obstructing that happiness - your life depends on it.