Photograph by Stephen Dempsey

We would watch the Weather Channel every morning hoping temperature forecasts would change. Rarely did they ever change but we also rarely lost hope. I think this is the difference between the young and old, hope versus reality. We grow older and wiser and our ambition and hope are lost like memories of Summers spent at the beach and neighborhood football games at the park. We remember having hope and going to the pool or beach. We remember those games we played at the park. But these memories are like Impressionist Art. We realistically interpret only a portion of what actually happened and fabricate the rest. We remember the good stuff or the bad stuff and rarely the mediocre stuff. It’s that mediocre stuff we long for as adults. To relive a time when our hope matched our ambition and we were invincible. Not even the weather could stop us from embracing the pain of sweat or frozen limbs, just so we could glide over those wooden ramps on our bicycles or sled down that fifteen foot, snow covered hill along side the road. These ramps and hills are what got us out of bed on Saturday morning and made us late for dinner on Wednesday night. The seasons kept changing and yet we never got lost in the never-ending journey for cheap thrills. It is after all what being a kid is all about.

As I grow older I see the Winter as completely unnecessary. I view the heat of Summer as an increase on my electric bill. There is too much rain in the Spring and far too many leaves to rake in the Fall. What happened to my ambition, my hope? We are faced with financial debt, an obligation to work so we can repay that debt and we base the quality of our day on how much sleep we got the night before. What happened to Mountain Dew and Big League Chew? Why can’t I build a plywood ramp and jump it with my bicycle? Why don’t I wait for the first snowfall and sled down the biggest hill in the County? I am not sure if these things are as much fun as sitting with Sara on the sofa and watching a good movie. As long as I have climate control in the house I can make any season comfortable. But it still feels like something got lost along the way. I can no longer round up the boys for football or build those dangerous ramps. I can however go to the gym and lift weights or stare at my motorcycle in the garage while I look forward to warmer temperatures. I am not convinced the loss of hope and ambition is a bad thing. I think reality and wisdom, when properly utilized, should not be taken for granted.

See, I no longer have the desire to play football with the boys, or jump ramps or go sledding. As a child I didn’t carry a wallet or any spare change for that matter. As an adult I have more options. Yes there is debt and there are bills and the Winter sucks the life out of me. But as I look into the future, as I grow older and wiser, I am realizing there are things in life that require special attention and things that do not. I am trying to improve my health so my quality of life and comfort also improve. I pay the bills, but I no longer fret over their persistence. They will come and go like the seasons. I look forward to free time. I look forward to seeing Sara smile. I look forward to my dogs waking me up on Sunday morning. I look forward to laying in bed and watching Netflix movies and eating popcorn. I don’t need ramps and sleds. Life as an adult isn’t much different than as a child as long as you realize that each day is a new adventure and nothing can hold you back. It may be less dangerous now and there are bills and other responsibilities but it is up to you to make the most of it.

Keep it simple and you will find that life is much more enjoyable, just like when we were kids.