Q: What’s some wisdom to help celebrate another year of living?
A: Here’s some short-and-sweet insights:
Time will begin to move faster, and your body a bit slower.
Do what you can to enjoy little moments throughout your day, and exercise regularly. You’d be surprised what a 5-minute walk, or a quick call to your wife—just to say hi, can do to help you enjoy your day. Exercise doesn’t have to be crazy—mobility is a big key. Stretch more.
“The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath,” (Mark 2:27)
It’s one of the 10 commandments, but no one thinks of breaking it as being as bad as stealing, killing, or sleeping with someone else’ spouse. But it’s a big deal to God. And it’s not for his benefit, but for ours. Perhaps God knows something we don’t.
“We tend to overestimate what we can do in a day, and underestimate what we can achieve in a decade. Miraculous things can be accomplished if you give it ten years. A long game will compound small gains to overcome even big mistakes.” (From Kevin Kelly)
Just don’t quit. Unless it’s obviously a bad choice, then quit as fast as you can. But the first rule of compounding is to not interrupt the compounding effect.
You’ll never get old if you never stop being curious.
Don’t fight your kids’ natural sense of wonder and curiosity. Don’t ask them to grow up too soon. Embrace it, and become more curious yourself.
Pray more, worry less.
This is easily the shortest and most powerful advice I have to give.
Some advice from philosopher Drake:
“I live for the moments that I can’t remember
With the people that I won’t forget,”
The big vacations, trips, parties, etc. are awesome. But the quality of your life is mostly judged by the mundane moments (the moment that you won’t be able to remember). But you’ll never forget your family (wife and kids).
So live for those moments. The mundane moments with the people you love.
Actionable Question: Which of these will you implement today? How?
-Andrew Nemeth