Yes, Neil Diamond. While always a fan favorite, good old Neil was never a favorite of the critics. That used to bother him and fill him with self doubt. At a certain point in his life he said, “I’ve forgiven myself for not being Beethoven!”. Neil Diamond hit the nail right on the head. At some point in our lives we just have to accept who we are and go with it. “I am…I said”.
I think I am at that point now. I wake up in the morning feeling like P. Diddy. Wait, I got distracted for a moment. I wake up in the morning feeling content with my life. I wish there was a better word to use but I can’t think of one.
I am not Beethoven. Nor did I ever want to be. But at various points in my life I wanted to be an astronaut, a journalist, a bookstore owner, a writer, and a teacher. None of those things happened but I have had a very nice and varied working life. I have had fantastic work experiences and met a lot of great people. I even got to travel the world for a job. Unforgettable!
I am not rich, by any stretch of the imagination. Do I wish I had more money? Of course, don’t we all? But I have enough to keep a roof over my head and food in my stomach. A lot of people on this earth cannot even say that! I am content. There is that word again.
I haven’t done a lot of things I had planned to do in my life. Most, if not all of them are now, at 66, out of reach. I always wanted to own a house on a lake. I always wanted to own a bookstore. I always wanted to climb to Machu Picchu. But you know what? I can drive to a lake. I can spend all the time I want in bookstores. The internet can bring me close to Machu Picchu in a different way. And…that’s okay.
I am not the physical specimen I would have liked to be at 66. But, I am basically healthy. I can still hike and kayak and run. Several of my high school classmates have already passed way. My 50th class reunion is in two years. I expect to attend and am thankful for the opportunity to be there.
I hope all of you can find the contentment that I have found. Choose your battles. Remember what is really important. Realize that what you have is so much more than ninety percent of the people on this planet. Be thankful every single day, even on the days where things may not be the best.
I am going to end this post with another quote. Not Neil Diamond’s words, but Socrates himself.
“He is richest who is content with the least, for content is the wealth of nature”.
To all my Lehigh Valley readers, be safe out there. These storms are amazing!
A Semi-retired Kind of Life 