Liberation in growing older

There is liberation in growing older – true in many ways, as I’m sure those of a certain age would agree, but one in particular came to mind this past week.

When a person comes to understand better what his/her limitations (not speaking of physical limitations here, although those may certainly come into play as well) are and perhaps have always been, it softens the blow of the inevitable thinking about potential career paths not taken.

“I could’ve done that,” or the more plaintive, “I should’ve done that.” How often do we say that to ourselves (or perhaps it is just I)? I look at doctors, lawyers, and all sorts of other apparently cool occupations as they are portrayed on TV and realize that I never would have had the talent or disposition to do those (and many other) jobs.

And I’m OK with that in a way I might not have been even 10 years ago.

I still wonder what it would be like to have had certain kinds of careers that I maybe did have the tools to do, such as joining the Navy or the Coast Guard, but it’s never too healthy to spend too much time on what-might-have-beens.

On that list of things we can’t and shouldn’t try to control, the past is right at the top. And moving on from that is liberating indeed.