I turned 50 in March. I am not sure how to feel about that other than the only option is forward. I am eternally grateful to be where I am. I am a child who was born with a hole in his heart, “fixed” when I was 4 and “fixed” again (seriously) when I was 6. I was always told that had I not fixed this hole, I would be dead at 20. I don’t know how many times I repeated that and my large scar on my chest is a reminder of that every day.
Every day is a gift.
Every. Day. Is. A. Gift.
To take it any other way would be a travesty whether or not you were born with a hole in your heart or not. A lot of people write about things that they learned when they turned 50 and had I been better prepared, I would have this ready when I turned 50.
I have had a couple of bouts with diverticulitus. Both were remedied by a liquid diet for 72 hours and was told by both doctors to not eat red meat. Some stomachs can handle red meat, but I get the idea that it’s a bit difficult to digest and I’ve cut it out as much as possible. Maybe once a month and if I do, it’s a small amount.
Alcohol is incredibly fun. I used to be a guy that drank a beer a day for the longest time and thoroughly enjoyed all sorts of beers. Trying new ones and all of that good stuff. I know that all things in moderation are typically okay, but aside from the medical evidence, I can say that from my own point of view when I wake up in the morning and there’s no fog and no cobwebs to fight through ever is incredibly helpful. Am I missing out on potential good times? Maybe, but the cost-benefit situation seems to be in favor of not drinking.
Small habits are good. They are good to force you to do things. I have the current streaks:
* 1,257 straight days by starting my day with a glass of water.
* 1,252 straight days of writing in my journal.
* 1,496 straight days of reading a book (even if it is just a sentence).
* 1,535 straight days of 100 push ups.
* 1,167 straight days of at least 3 minutes of planks.
* 1,140 straight days of meditating each day.
* 1,167 straight days of putting my phone away when I get home until after dinner.
* 700 straight days of brushing my teeth at night. I missed a day 700 days ago and my streak prior to that was 712 days.
Please exercise. Start small if you have to and when you can, please exercise like your life depends on it. Exercise like you are a professional athlete even though you are not. There is no reason to do things half-assed. I think about being there for my kids and seeing all of the things they will accomplish. I think about if I am killing myself or keeping myself alive. My hope is that it is the latter.
Do some sort of art. Whether it is writing or painting or reading fiction. Watch something that’s not a documentary and get out of your comfort zone. Your imagination that you had as a child has never gone away, it is still there. Stretch those synapses.
Be really selfish with the time with your kids. Like really selfish. And make time to do the things with them that they want to do. We get caught up in school activities and all of the events that happen in life, but the truth of the matter is that it’s really important to do the things that they want to do. Don’t turn away an opportunity to throw the football or watch something that they want to watch.
Do the same thing with your spouse.
I do not know where I heard the following quote, but it is something I think about often.
Live well, and live broadly. Now is the envy of all the dead.
Seek The Substantial 