Youth

Youth will be served, every dog has his day, and mine has been a fine one – George Borrow

I love this quote. It has been on my mind a lot lately. I’m 44, on the verge of 45. Not old, but far, far from youth. I’m not sure if it was my attempt at a relationship with someone younger that made me realize just how much I don’t want to be young again, but it certainly helped.

I’ve changed. A lot.. I see pictures of myself from even 5 years ago and there’s a strength and virility that is just gone now. I can work out, swim, eat well, but I’m declining. My son can eat McDonald’s and drink beer, and he’s gaining strength every day. Crazy thing is, this makes me happy.

I don’t have anything to prove to anyone anymore. I have no desire to “own” things. I want an older truck. I want a smaller house. I don’t want toys.

Well, that’s not true. I’d like a small Cessna 150 with a timed out engine and scuba gear in the back, to fly over the Rockies with, Nav Can willing. Think of it as the little flying engine that could. I think I can, I think I can……

What I want is to find a way to take all those tough experiences I’ve had, and help my kids avoid a few of them. Actually, no. What I want is to find a way to teach them how to cope and deal with them. Hopefully I can teach them to find the balance between working hard to create security and working so much it costs your family time and attention.

It’s not easy. Man, kids today have it rough. So rough. This digital world has really hurt our kids. It’s easier than ever to exclude, gossip, bully, hurt, mock, and betray. It upsets me. Things like having a family and owning a home are harder to achieve then ever.

If kids want to feel good, they need help. Booze, drugs, vape, sex, starve themselves, cut themselves, whatever. We pat ourselves on the back demanding a minimum wage for them, rather than take time to teach them real skills. They don’t need money, they need values, morals. What better high than the self esteem boost that comes with knowing you can walk a narrow road that leads up.

I’ve noticed something about this next generation. These kids are amazing. They are craving morality, discipline, order. Not authoritative order, authentic order. They are kind, generous, and the furthest thing from lazy. It’s almost as if an entire generation of kids with too busy parents suddenly decided to figure it out by themselves.

Back to me, and I’m sorry I’m jumping around. Im 45. If I made a million bucks, what would that make me? I mean there’s people that make a million by 20. So by that standard I’m a failure. I’ve met people that have nothing financially that have a far greater legacy than I’ll ever have. So let’s throw that useless measure out.

So how best can I have meaning as a 45 year old? Serve youth. I’m going to start with a few things.

Model a good work ethic

Unplug my TV

Listen to them

Pray for them

Apologize to them

Teach them things

Put my foot down when I feel them taking a wrong turn even though it makes me “uncool”

I’m going to start there. I had a very, very entertaining youth. Ive tried everything I wanted to try. I made enough mistakes for 5 people. Im so sick of me. I don’t want to hang onto my youth. I have a real chance here to step up and be a role model. I haven’t been a good one to date, or at least there’s room for improvement.

I will take care of myself and age as gracefully as I can; I’ll lift the odd dumbbell, fill a cavity now and then, eat fewer carbs, swim. Hell, I’ll even put moisturizer on my craggy face. But what I truly want is to serve youth. Finish strong as a Father of “at home” children. Maybe I’ll coach or work with troubled boys in the future. Oddly, but perhaps not, I’ve never been more excited for my future.

If you read this far, thank you.

Tris