The Golden Age
Looking to today and beyond.
Most of us will not achieve everything in life we ever had hoped for. It’s probably fair to say, we all will have unrealized hopes, dreams, and desires. But is that reason for despair? It does not need to be. Not achieving what you had high hopes for may be a reason for celebration.
You may be wondering now, what the …. is Brad talking about? Fair enough, let me explain.
You are responsible for everything in your life: Regardless of age, sex, religion, ethnicity, environment, wealth, social status, or education, to mention a few. Some things in life may not be your fault like getting hit by a car, but how you react is completely your responsibility. “Fault” is past tense, responsibility is always present and future tense.
Don’t pursue happiness; pursue challenges: You can’t just wake up one morning and say, hey, I’m going to go pursue happiness today. How would you do that? Happiness is just what happens after you decide to do something of meaning. That typically comes in the form of pushing yourself, challenging yourself, or doing something that brings a sense of accomplishment into your life. Happiness is a bonus to those things, not the objective.
If these things sound familiar to you, you keep good company. These are just a couple of thoughts and comments from Mark Manson. Most famously known as the author of; The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck. Among a few other non-typical titled books.
I read this now somewhat well-known book a few years ago, and still hold it in high regard and very much worth reading. Just listening to this sample from the audible book should give you an idea of how meaningful this book can be. You can listen to the 5-minute sample here.
If you have not achieved the things you still desire and you are reading this, you’re in luck. That means you are still alive and best of all you can still achieve those things you may have longed for for years, even decades. Sure you may not be able to climb a mountain these days, but I have no doubt you can do many things that can and will bring satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment into your life.
Just remember, think of challenges. Big, small, short, or long. Failures will teach you so happiness can follow.
Whosoever is delighted in solitude, is either a wild beast or a god.
-Aristotle.
Since I am big on quotes, let me provide a bit more substance to the above quote by Aristotle.
Aristotle also said, “I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies, for the hardest victory is over self”.
Our society places unordinary importance on social connection. I believe it borders on an unhealthy importance. The “sociability” conundrum is an awkward even frustrating one to deal with. There can be enough in 5 minutes of social life to take up an hour of analysis.
So now I get to sound like an old man. (I’m good with that in case anyone is wondering). In the pre-2000s, the only way to be “social” with your friends was straightforward. You could call them, and talk on the phone. Make a plan to get together. Hang out and do stuff. For myself, this type of social framework spans nearly 3 decades. From the 1970’s to 2000. It just so happened to be the period in my life when I was learning what it was like to be an adult. From a pre-adolescent playing night tag, swimming, sledding, sports, and riding bikes, to a teenager cursing the main street, learning how to “date a girl”, to my first job, marriage, to being a Dad, and losing parents. Lots happened in those 3 decades.
When we were alone back in those “good ol days”, we were alone. No cell phone in our pocket. No connection to the outside world at all. Just us, in our space, alone.
I still cherish my childhood. In retrospect, I had a wonderful childhood. Not perfect by any means, but a dang good one.
The point of this is that unless we’ve spent some time apart, (disconnected from others), we can’t be who we would like to be around our fellow humans. We won’t have original opinions; we won’t have lively and authentic perspectives. We’ll be – in the wrong way – a bit like everyone else.
“The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.”
― Jack London
The Ending Or Beginning…
It’s really all in how you look at it.
As one year ends a new year begins. Take time to let the newness of the year motivate you to new challenges, dreams, and accomplishments. We are all on the same path. The road just takes us to different places at different times and for different reasons.
The phrase “The Golden Age” may just be a phrase. What makes it so is what we choose to do with it. Stay strong, and let the strength and solitude of life guide you as we build a better today.
