I have always thought of time as an undeniable catalyst of change. Our own perspectives shift with its
passage to meet the needs of our naturally evolving lives. And with it, what was once important in our
youth may no longer have a place in our lives at 40 or 50.
For instance, it may be hard to reconcile the weekend plans of a 21-year-old college senior with that of a
middle-aged father, occupied by work while also making time for his family. Indeed, most young adults
would see this change as quite a downgrade, swapping out a fast life of university parties, unrestrained
drinking (as only those in their twenties can muster) bar hopping into the early morning hours for that
of a world of responsibilities. From this particular lens, (that of the unencumbered perspective of youth)
it can be difficult to accept such radical change, time and experience tend to open up the doors to
acceptance to what our lives are calling for now.
What might be seen as a generation gap–a fundamental difference of lifestyles—is natural, but time
turns the 20-something into a middle-aged adult, creating a shift in lifestyle and perspective. As college
ends, friendships forged in simpler, carefree times fade or evolve and ultimately, life and experience
pave the way for new favorites.
With time and experience coloring our perspectives of years passed, the inevitable change that may
have once been an unacceptable compromise into adulthood eventually becomes logical or even
preferable. This is not to say that as we age, we must develop a taste for tedium, settling ourselves into
an otherwise dull existence, though a less seasoned perspective may view it as such from their point in
time.
But in reality, the ability to shift our favorites as we evolve is quite the opposite of a downgrade. It is the
gift of being open to the fluidity of time, making way for the new paths we discover, ones that elevate us
to meet our potential in whatever form it manifests, perhaps through the responsibilities of parenthood,
a fulfilling career or whatever meaningful pursuits we choose to occupy our adult lives.
These newly emerging paths are opportunities in our lives, not limitations or burdens. They are universal
invitations to change our favorites into something that suits who we are or who we are becoming, not
who we once were. It is only with the right perspective that we can see them as such and to recognize
when it’s time to make these changes for ourselves.