2023 - What a great year
As 2023 makes its appearance, I thought it might be fun to write a story based on numbers that are significant for me this year.
If you’ve never done this exercise, I highly recommend it. Read on to find out what each # represents.
The days of our years are threescore years and ten . . . Psalm 90:10
This year (January), I hit my threescore and ten full steam ahead.
Like me, when you were growing up, you probably viewed Seventy as ancient.
Judging by my own family history, I never thought I would live that long. Between stroke and cancer, three out of four of my grandparents never lived to see that age.
So, It seemed reasonable that 70 was very old . . .
My one grandfather who did “beat the odds” was an amazing man. I knew he was “up in years”, but he never seemed that old to me.
The older I get, the more I aspire to be like him. A true gentleman in everyday. I will have to write about his life very soon.
The funny thing is that as I approach the age we use to think was ancient, I don’t feel ancient.
As a matter of fact, I don’t think of myself as being old at all. Other than not having the same level of vim and vigor I did as a teenager, I feel more that age than 70.
During these years, this Lowcountry boy from South Carolina got to travel the world, live in 7 states and 4 foreign countries.
Who would have thought.
There’s still just too much left I want to do, too many stories to tell.
Since I decided to “retire” just a couple of weeks before my 70th birthday, my wife and family decided to do a combined celebration.
One of the things we did was total up my work history in terms of # of years and things I’ve done.
It was shocking, to say the least.
While we are in the midst of doing life, we really don’t think about these things too much.
I had not planned to “retire” at age 70. Actually, I didn’t have any age in mind for a long time. I just figured I would know when it was time.
And I did.
A fellow Substack writer, Rocco Pendola writes Never Retire, an excellent newsletter with an alternate take on the whole retirement issue.
If I had it to do all over again, I would probably have followed this model, as it aligns more with my philosophy of retirement.
Back to the #s.
We totaled up that I had been working for 55 years for (actually more than) 34 different businesses, the military, and the government. These could be categorized into several different groups such as sales/marketing, service, manual labor, and government (military/civilian contractor which occupied 35 of those years).
Many stories could be written about each of these categories (and probably will be).
By far, the two best #s of my life.
It will be forty-two years in June since I answered the call of Christ when he said, “Follow me”.
I’ve never looked back.
You can actually listen to a 2 part audio-drama about that part of my life here and here.
Soon after, I met “the one”. August will be 41 years since she said, “I do”.
These two events began a voyage of adventure that I can only describe as amazing.
When we boarded this ship, neither of us had a clue where we would go. But we took a vow that we would never “jump ship”. There was no exit plan.
As a matter of fact, I like to kid my wife that if she ever plans to leave me, I’m coming with her . . .
Our Ship Master led us through smooth peaceful glassy seas, tumultuous towering waves, and blowing gales of stormy winds.
Through all this, we learned to navigate our way and find “safe harbor”.
Our Anchor has held.
This journey has allowed us to travel all over the U.S. and to actually live in four different states.
As we sailed this sea of life, we were privileged to add five amazing crew members.
As they “learned the ropes” and earned their “sea legs”. Each added unique and interesting navigational insights and abilities. Often, they have helped us keep the ship afloat and off the rocky shoals.
Oh, the stories we could tell . . .
And Then There Were
As these five matured in their sailing abilities, the Ship Master entrusted them with their own ships.
Today, nine “grand crew” members have been added to the Flotilla.
More stories in the making.
Looking back, it was impossible to have anticipated how this life would unfold. Yet, there is nothing I would change.
Not even the hard times.
It was through these that we learned endurance and perseverance, two indispensable qualities of a successful life.
We learned to find moments of joy and laughter during the hard times
We learned to appreciate what we had and not to lament what we didn’t have.
Our kids learned the value of work, responsibility, and faith as they watched us weather the storms of life.
Through hardship, we learned resourcefulness and the value of giving and receiving.
Our lives have been blessed as we helped others successfully navigate choppy seas.
We get to choose our response to life’s curve balls.
I hope you will take a few moments to assess your own life.
What are the significant numbers for you in 2023 (or any year for that matter)?
What does this year represent?
What have your learned from the things you have experienced that can help you be successful in the future?