The Future

We touched upon the past, now onto the future.

I am 47 years old, and sometimes I cannot believe it. I am almost half a century old. I remember in my 20's thinking how old 50 was. Now that I am almost there I know it isn't near as old as I thought. I have been blessed with good health and I do appreciate that.

With medicine and science what it is these days, I could very well live to be 100. That means my life isn't even half over yet! I like that thought.

Yesterday while I was looking at my past I realized I've had a very fortunate past, much more good than bad. I plan to make my future the same way.

No one knows how long we will live, but I think it would be wise to bet on a long life and plan accordingly. If there are things about yourself you want to change, do so. Like I am now. I am adding more strength and peace to my life. It may not always seem like it, it isn't an easy thing to do all the time. But I know the hardships (and even now the hardships I have are really very simple) I am going through now will make the road so much smoother just ahead.

Always look forward to see what is coming on your path, walk with your head up and your back straight extruding strength and peace and that is what people will see. Even if you aren't feeling it, portray it.

When I was a child and my mom and dad would argue I would pray someone would come over because they would have to pretend to be happy and not angry with each other and by the time that person left it would be true. They wouldn't be angry anymore. So even if you have to pretend the peace and strength, I have confidence that eventually it will be true.

I find that even on bad days I need to quit looking at what made it so bad and try and find what can make it good. I like, specially in Michigan, walking. The green of the trees and coolness of the shade always brought me some peace. Here in Vegas I go look for a park with green grass - Seven Hills has some beautiful parks. Just sitting in the grass and emptying my mind of all strife really seems to pay off. It may not solve my issue but I can then approach it in a better manner.

So now is the time to look to your future. What do you want it to be? I'd even go so far as to make a list and I wouldn't call it a Bucket List! Good movie and all, but I don't want any tinge of negativity on it and dying is definitely a negative to me.

Go to your quiet spot and think forward 5 years, 10 years, etc. Trust that you will live as long as you are supposed to. Others get more time, but even then, we need to make sure to get in all the fun stuff and adventures we can.

Now we have more wisdom - supposedly - and if we've taken care of ourselves properly, the energy to get those items on our list done. I read about a 70 year old nun running a marathon, she completed it! No she didn't win the race, but she won nonetheless.

Let's look to the future with pleasure, so if you haven't already, start laying the ground work. Better your mood, better your health if you need to, look forward and not back, and plan on having the future half of your life be better than the past.

Join groups you never had time to before, go places that interest you, even if it is the biggest ball of yarn in the world. It doesn't matter. Take advantage of each and every day. They are gifts we are given, do not waste them.