January 2025

January Thought of the Month

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."

~ Steve Jobs

As we get older, it's almost inevitable that we look back with regret on time wasted, decisions made, and the paths not taken. No one wants to have such regrets in their lives. But too many of us make decisions - big and small - to make others happy rather than with our own best interests in mind.

Children grow up wanting to please their parents. Some of that carries over into relationships in adulthood. That's fine as long as it doesn't go too far. Who hasn't heard stories about children taking on careers that don't satisfy them to please their parents or spouses living miserable lives to make their uncaring partners happy. Others benefit from their sacrifices while only they pay the price of valuable time and effort irrevocably wasted.

The only thing we all receive in life is time. It's a precious commodity that cannot be regained once spent. The older we get, the more aware of this we become. The sooner we start spending some of our time in our goals, the better the return on that investment. While the past is set, it's never too late to change directions. The start of a new year is a perfect time to reflect on where we are, where we are heading, and where we want to end up.

Life is not just about the journey. We need to be sure that the destination is the one we choose and not one chosen for us by others. There's a lyric from a song in the classic Western comedy, Cat Ballou that has always stuck with me: "I am old and gray and I've lost my way. All my tomorrow's were yesterday." It's being sung in a house of ill repute by one of the ladies about someone regretting their life choices in old age. Always strive to make every decision a stepping stone to the path that will take you where you want to stand when you are old and gray.

[Thought and image design by Elaine C. Oldham]