'Reflect More'

One of the studies I have often quoted over the years was of 80 year olds who, when asked, wished they had “risked more, reflected more, and left a legacy.”

In my 40’s, it was the ‘risked more’ that interested me the most, as I have always thought that life was an adventure to be savoured for every last moment.

But now at 62, with more time to think, it is ‘reflect more’ that I am enjoying. At last there is time to try and make some sense of the world, or at least my world.

At 62, there is a temptation to look back at the 40 year olds with a little jealousy, as the world is now theirs, or at the 20 year olds with their perfect bodies and freedom and irresponsibility. Life was so simple then.

So this is what I think.

We ALL have our allotted time on Earth, not counting fatal sickness, accident or war, about 70-80 years.

We all have 20 odd years to be young, beautiful and carefree, to be self-centred and self-assured.
We all have 40 odd years to make our contribution in making the world a better place and raising the next generation.
We all have 10-20 years to enjoy the fruit of our labour in retirement, to travel, volunteer and pursue hobbies.
And we will all have our winter years in which to look forward to eternity, if we believe.

At 62, I look back at my allotted years, mostly in the last half of the 20^th Century, and feel deep gratitude and contentment for my era. My youth was spent in a time of great peace and prosperity, paid for by my parent’s and grandparents in the two world wars: paid at enormous price.  It was also a time of great safety and freedom. We were fundamentally a Christian nation back then and I and my brothers were able to roam freely in the entire valley of my hometown, blissfully unaware and unafraid of possible attack or danger.

I don’t envy the 20 year olds with their perfection and freedom, or the 40 year olds changing the world. This is their time and I hope they enjoy it as much as I enjoyed mine.

I still have time to keep working at ‘leaving a legacy’, accomplished in every treasured moment spent with children and grandchildren, in unhurried conversations and shared memories, in faithful fervent prayer.

I’m 62…. and I’m grateful.