Thankful Thursdays

Ahhh, to have the energy I had at 30 (even 40) or…to be nearing retirement, with wisdom instead of speed. What say you?

Ray and I were talking about this just the other night, fresh off our vacation, as we mentally prepared to swap mountain views for emails.

Let me tell you—coming back to work after two weeks in the mountains to trade in peace and pine trees for deadlines and desk chatter, was a bit rough. One day I was hiking quiet trails, admiring wild life, and sipping coffee with a view; the next, I’m squinting at my monitor trying to remember how to log into my computer.

I went from fleece layers and hiking boots to office clothes and heels (ugh), from breathing mountain air to sitting under fluorescent lights. My inbox was a mess and my brain was somewhere around 8,000 feet, wondering if there was a nearby trail I could escape to.

Eventually, I got back in the swing of things. As the routine came back (deadlines, calendar invites, expense reports, to-do lists) (thank heaven for cafecito time!), I reminded myself that this is part of the deal. I work, among other reasons, so I can wander. The next trip, the next adventure, is already being earned, one task at a time. Work is just part of the climb… with fewer scenic overlooks. 😕

Now, about that whole time warp thing—yeah, sometimes I miss the energy. The way I could power through a day and recover from little sleep like it was nothing. But these days? I’ve got something else: perspective. The kind of wisdom that only comes after a few stumbles and a lot of living.

Sure, if I could borrow that 30-year-old energy for a day or two, I probably would. But would I trade it for the clarity I’ve got now? For the peace that comes with knowing what matters and what doesn’t? Nah. Let me say that again: Nah. I’ll take the memories and the wisdom. And when retirement finally rolls around, I’ll welcome it with open arms and a bunch of protein shakes, carrying the lessons I’ve learned along the way. Honestly, that feels like a pretty good deal. God-willing.

What about you? Where are you in life and what would you choose? And what are you thankful for today?

Until next Thursday’s post…si Dios quiere.

”Getting old is like climbing a mountain; you get a little out of breath, but the view is much better!”
-I. Bergman

“Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.”
-D. Parton

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