35 years: It’s halftime

Today is my 35th birthday.  Now before you start singing “Happy Birthday” to me in five different keys, finish reading this blog, because it’s not about me or my birthday.  It’s about time.

As I hit the midway point in my life, it’s hard to believe 35 years has gone by so fast.  But time seems to speed up the older we are.  I remember as a kid thinking I would never get to middle school, or to high school, and then to college.  Time seemed to move so slow back then.

Growing up in church, I remember hearing things like, “your life is a vapor: it’s here today and gone tomorrow”, which sounded so crazy back then, but now I understand what it means.  I have a feeling the next 35 years, if I’m given that much time, is going to go by much faster than the first 35.

It’s halftime, and moments like these are good times to pause and reflect on what has been as I look forward to what will be.  What have I done with the time I’ve been given?  Am I proud of the choices I’ve made and the paths I’ve taken?  What have I learned from the first half that will help me make the most of the second half?  Most importantly, what do I want to accomplish in the next 35 years so that I won’t have any regrets when I look back at my 70th birthday?

If you’re younger than I am, you don’t have to wait until your halftime moment to pause and reflect on your life, what you’ve accomplished and where you want to go.  Nor if you’re a little older than me.  Take a moment today to pause, reflect and consider your life.  Truly, it’s here today and gone tomorrow.

“Happy Birthday to me.  Happy Birthday to me…”