The road seems to reach to eternity and holds many promises of adventure, new places and people to meet. In life, we make this journey for the knowledge and truths that the road shares with us. We hope that our travels gift us with wisdom earned from the dusty roads and byways. In one form or another we must all make this journey and in time find our way home so that we may share what we have learned and be a mentor to others that travel the lost highways. What we learn we should share, our knowledge should be taught and our wisdom whispered to the lonely traveler on their own quest. In the end, may we embrace our imagination and never quench our thirst for learning for it is a well that never dries up.
In life and business, we must constantly seek out new knowledge so that we may grow and avoid getting our fade on. When we stop learning that is just what we do. The imagination stops sparking and we, in essence, give up and fade away. It is a slow process where we read fewer books, engage our friends a little less, and we walk our dogs less and they too get their fade on. We see our family less because we are bored and don’t get out from in front of the TV. It is like a fork in the road and we choose the mundane rather than the dynamic. Is this truly the end of our story? It really is up to us as to what happens next.
By now we have had a lifetime of learning and all this really does is give us the tools to do even greater things in life and for ourselves. It is true that there comes a time to sit in your garden and listen to the birds sing but we can also contribute to the community. Giving back also opens you up to receiving appreciation for the value you add. What you have learned in life makes you valuable, a person worth listening to and a person people want and need to know.
It is a time for coffee with your friends to remind each other that none of you need to feel alone. Instead of the grumpy old man’s club, you can be the inspired elders’ club. Elders that hold knowledge and wisdom from a lifetime on life’s journey. Seasoned travelers from the lost highways with a lifetime of tools to meet any job or solve any problem. In ancient times the elders were sought out for advice and guidance. While I never meet my grandfather, the stories I have heard inspired me and made me want to know more. My dad could say more in his silence, a silence filled with as much meaning as the few words he would speak. Our knowledge and learning are not just what we leave behind, it is alive now filled with your own bestseller, your life’s novel. Now is the time to share it and let it reach others, let it touch them deeply that they might read it over and over.
Point Of View
We are the custodian of our life. It is truly up to us which path we choose. Will we get our fade on or will we go out like a supernova sending a ripple across the universe? There are very important roles that we can fill in our communities. If you lost a loved one to Alzheimer’s or any diseases be an advocate for getting help and information out to those in need. Animal shelters are in dire need for people to foster the animals or help out at adoption events or just take the dogs for walks. Reach out and make a difference.
From my experience the Chamber of Commerce is always in need of people with business acumen to do presentations or be ambassadors. The list is endless in what we can do to learn. City recreation centers have many classes. It is up to us to not be forgotten. Get up off the front porch and go out and make a difference.
In the end, may we embrace our imagination and never quench our thirst for learning for it is a well that never dries up.
Great article, Larry! I love your thought process.
Thank you my friend
Always my pleasure. Thank you for sharing the gift of your writing.