Man In The Mirror

A mentor of mine once asked me how long I thought I’d live.

“Sixty—I dunno—maybe seventy years.”  Most of my grandparents passed midway through their seventies.  I figured I had about as much time.

“Ok, let’s say sixty.”  We’d been talking about dreams and goals and reaching that elusive point where you’re doing what you always wanted.  ”Do you want to peak tomorrow?”

He paused so I could weigh his question.

“Or do you want to peak when you’re sixty?”

I squirmed noticeably.  I wasn’t anticipating the one-two.  “…I guess…peak when I’m sixty…?”

He smiled, understanding my reluctance.  “You want to shine your brightest at your sixtieth—maybe even post-mortem.”  A pained expression spread across my face.  He just smirked.  ”Look.  You want to live knowing your best years are never behind you.”

He wasn’t saying not to expect amazing things today.  But he explained that sometimes we’re so impatient to get to the top we forget to faithfully build the right foundations to make everyday better than the last.  Make the heyday obsolete.  Never say “in my prime.”  Watch the golden years last forever.

“Sometimes fame and success are blind luck.  But there are no shortcuts to greatness.” - said Hard Work.