Given the Chance Would You Relive the Good Ol’ Days?
Lately I have been struggling with the complexity of my life. I’m a husband, a dad to two boys–one which likes to destroy mailboxes with cars, a son, a brother, a friend, a mentor, a business owner of a growing business, a board member, a volunteer and other roles which I can’t think of right now. Ok, just writing that last sentence got me overwhelmed. I have longed for the simple, uncomplicated days of yesteryear where there was freedom and opportunity. Well, that was until I started to think more clearly about the good ol’ days. Once I woke up from my glamorized stroll down memory lane, here’s what I really gave up:
I had $25 dollars left to my name during the freshman year of college. I certainly would not want to relive that.
I didn’t own a car until after I graduated from college. How in the world did I get around?
I was cleaning toilets my second week of school, then I washed dishes for another year. I didn’t wise up and got a library job until half way through my sophomore year.
I lived in an apartment the size of my current bathroom after graduating from college. Ok, I just measured, my bathroom is actually bigger, and that doesn’t even count the closet.
I had a budget $20 per week worth of groceries in my early 20′s. If I managed my money well, I would have $3 left by Friday so I could get a Big Top burger. Thankfully I knew how to cook so I ate better than my friends who survived on Ramen noodles and Spam. I would not want to relive that season either.
At 22 I opened a checking account and took $30. The banker joked and said “big weekend plans, huh?” Sadly, she was right. I had huge weekend plans for that much money
I was going on dates with what turned out to be some seriously insane women. (There’s a whole series of posts here).
I commuted for nearly 2 hours every day.
I could hear the sexual escapades of my next-door neighbor through the paper-thin walls of my tiny apartment. “Hey, I’m trying to have a Bible study here!”
While my life is complicated, it’s a full and very rewarding one. And no, I wouldn’t trade it for my 20-something self. Now if I could keep the learning, experience and wisdom I’ve gotten so far AND get my 25 year-old body back, well that’s a deal I wouldn’t refuse.
