You can probably understand why I’m feeling nostalgic and reflective this week after receiving so many nice gestures and tributes over my somewhat special anniversary.  It made me think of a segment I shared last year which was based on something sent to me which I changed a little bit but certainly kept the meaning. It’s titled “The Back Nine” and seems appropriate to close out this week:

Time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years.

It seems like yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life.  Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago and I wonder where all the years went.  I know that I lived them all and I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams.

But here it is.  The back nine of my life and it catches me by surprise. How did I get here so fast?  Where did the years go and where did my youth go?  I remember seeing older people through the years and thinking they were years away from me and I was only on the first hole and the back nine was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like.

But here it is. My friends are retired and getting grey. They move slower.  Some are in better and some worse shape than me but I see a great change.  Not like the ones that I remember when we were young and vibrant.  But like me their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and NEVER thought we’d become.

And so now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things I wish I had done but never did!  Yes I have regrets.  There are things (many) I wish I hadn’t done and things I should have done, but there are many things I’m happy to have done.

For those not on the back nine yet let me remind you that it will be here faster than you think.  So whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly and don’t put off things too long. Life goes by quickly so do what you can today as you can never be sure whether you’re on the back nine or not.

You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life so live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in the years past.

“Life” is a gift. Live it well. Enjoy today!

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