Chapter 25

Today is my oldest child’s 32nd birthday. However I am taking care of my 79 year old dad. When I remarked that it was Heidi’s 32nd birthday today, he said, “I can’t even remember what life was like when I was 32.” I can though and it was a tough space to be in, but exciting too. I wonder what it is like for Heidi? And for the record I think my dad is full of bullshit when he says he can’t remember being 32, his memory is fine. But we all have different memories of 32, and where it is/was in our timeline is different for all of us.

I like what George Eliot said,  "It is never too late to be who you might have been." which isn’t strictly true, but it is largely true. Not strictly true in the sense that my cousin wanted to be an NBA star and he is telling me this when he is 50 years old, and that clock can’t be rewound. But for the most part, we can reach all of our potential, that we had at 32. It’s still hard work, but the potential in you should have only grown with the years, not diminished. Your capacity and skills and understanding and wisdom all should have grown and become more. Your networks should be larger. Your framework for understanding the world should be larger. Your perspective should be broader.

In other words, all the pieces you need to be what you were at 32, and more, should be in place. If they are not, then that is on you. Today is the time to start building.