This older me, this wiser me…
looks back before I head into this new year. This older me, this wiser me reflects on one simple question: “What really mattered in my life? What really mattered?
Was it to be popular with others my age (first in school, then in my job, then with other parents, and on and on)? I wanted so much to be popular. Did that really matter?
Was it to have nice things (clothes, cars, houses, furniture)? I longed for nice things, worked hard for nice things, my whole life. Did those things really matter?
I did so much in my life. I always wanted more. I had a career, a marriage, children. I raced from task to task, wanting to be the best for each of them; always longing to be better than I felt I was, feeling less than perfect all the time.
Did it matter? Did it really matter?
This older me, this wiser me looks back and thinks…
What really mattered was the laughter, the love, the hugs, the conversations, the moments of pure joy. None of these things had popularity or fashion or money requirements. They came to me free of charge with only one requirement; I had to give these things back to others.
This older me, this wiser me…
found peace inside, and with that peace came this simple but profound understanding. I realized, as I looked back on my memories that when I laughed, others laughed. When I hugged, I got a hug in return. When I listened to others, others listened to me. When I shared my moments of pure joy, it made others happy and they, in turn, shared their’s. When I gave love, I got loved right back.
So, what really matters in this life?
How about if you STOP! Stop trying to be… and do… and want… and need… something more. STOP! Stop wishing…and hoping… and longing…for something you don’t have. STOP! Stop believing that being popular, having a great job, making lots of money is what matters…because… it doesn’t.
In the end, the older you, the wiser you will look back… at the laughter… the love…the hugs…the conversations…the moments of pure joy.
And, they were all free to give and freely given in return.
So, this older me, this wiser me says…
This is my gift to you for the new year. You don’t have to wait to be old to be wise. Right now, today, you can bring laughter into your day, you can hug someone and listen (really listen) to someone. And then, try sharing a moment of pure joy. See for yourself. See if, by doing these things, you find love.
And, that, my friends, is what really matters…to love!
Begin Again 