The thought of a long life crosses my mind quite frequently actually. I am currently crossing off the days of this month to my 38th birthday. Not quite to that big scary 4-0 but getting closer. My mom is 30 years older than me and her mom has been gone for 4 years now but would have been 97. Three generations that almost spanned 100 years.
100 years can equal 5 generations, 25 presidents, 10 decades, multiple periods of art, and multiple world wars. It spans from motor cars to electric vehicles, plumbing and electricity for only the rich to available at the touch of a button in every home. Home lives have changed from house wives to business women. Libraries are on our phones and phones arent used for calls but texts.
Some of these sound little while others are huge changes. I have noticed things from my childhood that have disappeared or are no longer important to younger generations. I catch myself telling my 7 year old nephew that I didnt have that when I was his age. I can only imagine what a 95 year old person can recall that they didnt have as a kid. Sorting through that many years when I feel old now really blows my mind. I mean how do you remember what decade it was?
The thing with a long life is really how you live it. There are people who have been through war, through spouses, through children and losses and yet they still have a joy for living. Then there are those that have gone through those same things and are merely existing. Not all of our circumstances are within our control but the way in which we deal and the choices that we make, the attitude that we have, that makes the difference.
If I am to make it into those triple digits, and Lord help me if I do, I want to know that I gave it my best to make it my best. The quality comes from living in the moment but hoping for the future. This last year I have struggled to start and business and to start a new career. But looking back over it I have grown as a business woman, I have depended on myself to make choices and build my future. I looked at my taxes for the last year and while they are not by any means impressive, what I am building has more value to me than that income.
And that goes not only for my business life but also for my personal life. I think for a portion it, my best description is absurd, as in I never would have thought this scenario. I wont go into detail but there have been Oh My Gosh Awesome! and what in the actual you know what scenarios. But during them I have leaned on my family, I have taken steps back to breathe and I have taken moments to appreciate all the crazy. My circle is the quality I want to look back on after all the long years. What I have endured, enjoy and lived with and thru them.
If my last day is tomorrow or my last day is 62 years and 21 days from now at the ripe old age of 100, I hope that I have more happy memories than sad, more goals I met than I havent, and more lives that I have touched with at least a little bit of inspiration. I hope that you all will go into tomorrow with a joy and zest and hope for your next 50 years! The best is still on its way.
As for me, I will be sharing my goals for at least my online world to know. I want to share my story and my growth with others. Build a business but more importantly build a life worth living. Let’s make it quality!!
The Distracted Damsel 