I heard them mutter “you’re a stupid man” and smiled at them but said nothing.
Wasn’t the first time I have heard it and it might not be the last but I don’t spend time worrying about that kind of stuff.
It makes for good blog fodder and that is a damn good gift that I will take time and again.
There are plenty of people who are smarter than I am. That is not particularly difficult.
Plenty who are wiser, cleverer and more resourceful than I am. Wouldn’t be hard to develop a long list of those and many who have more accomplishments than I do as well.
So what.
Are they happier? Are they healthier? Do they have more peace-of-mind than me?
Will I get more of any of those three items by comparing myself or wondering and worrying about it?
If the answer is yes than it matters to me and if the answer is no than I don’t care.
Told the kids and at least one nephew that Dad/Uncle Josh thinks peace-of-mind is among the most valuable things you can obtain.
Can you be happy and content with what you have. Can you look around you and feel good about the life you have and the life you lead.
If the answer is yes that is pretty damn good.
Had a conversation with the boys about the same thing not long ago and we mulled over what that might require/mean now.
Some are close to retiring and have decided they are happy with where they are in their careers and others talk about doing more.
When they ask me what I think I tell them I have a few years left to go and that might mean a few more positions because there isn’t enough runway to do much more than that.
That is based upon certain assumptions about cash flow and interest in working. Life can impact both which is why I retain the right to adjust and or pivot.
Health impacts that too and we hope that genetics and personal effort work together to give me a good outcome there.
Got a procedure or two I am looking at that might influence things in a positive/negative way and hope that nothing beyond that comes.
Started making a mental checklist of things I haven’t done yet that I really want to do just in case there is a need.
One friend asked if I was superstitious and I said no, “I plan for some things.”
That surprised them.
“I don’t think of you as a planner. You fly by the seat of your pants.”
“Sometimes, depends what it is. I try not to wing everything. Working on trying to make the important stuff happen. I am pretty focused.”
“I don’t think of you that way. You’re kind of fear less, happy-go-lucky.”
“Maybe you don’t me as well as you think you do.”
Didn’t tell them that one of the benefits of having two parents and never having encountered certain challenges is a privilege that not all of us get.
No reason to engage nor interest.
That is the goal, to ‘make it happen’ and that is what I am working on. Got multiple moving pieces and some good arrangements that I believe will lead to where I want to go and a double dose of hope.
But it might not.
But it might and it might happen in ways other than I expect or hope for.
So I keep my eyes and ears open and hold out my hand while simultaneously working hard.
Can’t do more than that.
Never know when another hand will clasp mine and opportunity will arrive, just have to keep going.
