The older we get the harder it becomes to see the world with the excitement and sense of adventure that we all had as a child. I understand that a certain level of clarity and reality must be applied as we enter adulthood and beginning to plan for our future and that of our children and beyond. But I also believe that the inherent desire of a child to see the world adorned with rainbows and glitter is not a bad concept to remember.
As children, there is just so much that we don’t know and understand that we become almost ok with facing the unknown. And in many cases, each of those unknowns turns into a valuable lesson that helps us along the path to adulthood. Unknowns often turn out well for us as children. But at some point, we begin to develop a smugness and we even truly believe that we know all that we need to know to plan and control our own destiny. A byproduct of this superior feeling is a growing fear of the situations which we cannot control and must still label as unknown.
The harsh reality is that our ability to control really does not increase as much as we might think it does. We are just becoming more self-aware and more self-sufficient. Parents are no longer making the day to day choices for us, but the world is now throwing multitudes of additional variables at us. And our adult brain is now focusing on a much more long term outcome. As a kid, dinner time can be a long-term goal if its pizza night and summer break can feel a lifetime away. But adults are trained to worry about next year, the next decade and even how we are going to survive in retirement which could be many decades away.
This is not all to proclaim that planning is wrong, and we should all live with a happy go lucky mindset that retirement will take care of itself. There are too many people facing that challenge right now. CNBC reports that the mean retirement savings of families between 50 and 55 are currently under $125,000, which is not even close to the six times your annual savings recommendation. Planning for your financial future is critical and should be taken very seriously.
What I am concerned with achieving is getting back to a childlike approach as I face any unknown in my life. I understand that some could have a negative outcome, but fearing my next step or my next choice is not going to eliminate that possibility. However, it is going to make me miserable and can even hinder me when it comes to making any decision. My solution is to apply that childlike wonder, but from the adult perspective of around six feet tall.
I know that unknowns can bring change and confusion, but I also need to remember that all of these can offer a very positive long term experience. Maybe my adult expectation will not be for glitter and unicorns, but I can expect to gather knowledge, good experiences and maybe even enjoy some great company and good coffee along the way. After all, even some really bad days are tolerable with the right coffee!
The point that we seem to forget somewhere between riding a big wheel and driving a minivan is that life is a journey, and it is meant to take us many places. And even the smartest adults among us are not going to be able to control every step of that journey. So abandoning that crazy idea is going to feel like lifting a huge weight from your shoulders, and it might even help you to enjoy your life even more than you ever imagined you could. So take a page from your childhood and face each unknown with a smile and a touch of curiosity and excitement. And know that if you are following your heart and making good choices, then you will remain on the path of the journey that is meant for you.
This is brilliant! I’ve printed off a copy for my “New Beginnings” book for 2019. As much as I appreciate having access to such wisdom on-line, I love having a hard copy I can hold in my hands whenever I want, regardless of whether the wifi is working! I especially love your reference to the importance of coffee—not too much, not too little (the Goldilocks Rule), but just right!
Pam- I am the same way- I print articles to reread many time and scribble notes on all the time. I also find that there is a special connection that only comes from holding a real book in my hands. I love e-books and the ability to carry a whole library with me when I travel but there is nothing like the pages of a real book. Regardless of the topic or story, as you turn each page you physically see your progress. As more pages turn to the left and the thickness to the right declines you know that you are reaching the end of what that book has to share. In some cases, you can even slow down and savor the last few pages if you like. I also really enjoy any book that is signed by the author…its not that it changes the value but it deepens the connection because in this rare case, the person who wrote the words actually touched the very book that I am reading. I like that more intimate relationship with the words that I am reading.
And for me coffee is the true magical elixir!
Have a wonderful day Pam
❤️😊😘